The Effects of Resistance Exercise Selection on Muscle Size and Strength in Trained Women

Abstract

The study compared the effects of resistance training programs composed by multi-joint (MJ), single-joint (SJ) and the combination of multi- and single-joint (MJ+SJ) exercises on muscle strength and hypertrophy in trained women. Thirty participants were divided into groups that performed only MJ exercises, SJ exercises and MJ+SJ exercises for six months. Participants were tested for 1-repetition maximum (RM) and muscle thickness (MT) before and after the intervention. All groups showed significant gains on 1RM tests from pre- to post-training (P<0.01). However, MJ and MJ+SJ groups obtained greater gains in 1RM for the MJ exercises in comparison with the SJ group. Increases in 1RM for the SJ exercises were similar among groups, with the exception of leg curl, where the SJ group obtained greater gains than MJ and MJ+SJ. All groups obtained significant increases in MT from pre- to post-training for all muscle groups. However, MJ and MJ+SJ groups presented greater increases in gluteus maximus, quadriceps femoris and pectoralis major in comparison with the SJ group. Therefore, our results suggest that, in general, performing MJ exercises seems to be necessary to obtain optimal results from a resistance training program; however SJ might be necessary to provide optimal strength gains in knee flexion.

Association of Water Intake with Hand Grip Strength in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…The present study also found the inverse relationship of age with HGS in both men and women, regardless of adjustment for confounding factors. This study also showed that BMI and resistance exercise, two other important determinants of HGS [31,32], are independent factors positively correlated with HGS. Several studies investigating the effect of hydration on muscle strength were unable to completely rule out the effect of weight gain due to water intake.…”

Association of Water Intake with Hand Grip Strength in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…The present study also found the inverse relationship of age with HGS in both men and women, regardless of adjustment for confounding factors. This study also showed that BMI and resistance exercise, two other important determinants of HGS [31,32], are independent factors positively correlated with HGS. Several studies investigating the effect of hydration on muscle strength were unable to completely rule out the effect of weight gain due to water intake.…”

Improbable data patterns in the work of Barbalho et al.

“…After performing 1,000,000 simulations, we observed that (A) none of the simulations had a perfect correlation between baseline squat and hip thrust 1RMs, and similarly, (B) none of the simulations had a perfectly homogeneous difference between squat and hip thrust 1RMs. This indicates that the perfect baseline relationship observed by Barbalho et al [73] has a P -value < 1 × 10 −6 .…”

The impact of resistance training on gluteus maximus hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In three studies, combined multiple hip extension exercises, even with single or multi-joint exercises, increased GMax ( Barbalho et al, 2021 ; Kassiano et al, 2024 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ). One study showed that combining single-joint exercises (knee extension and knee flexion exercises) with leg press did not negatively influence GMax increase ( Balshaw et al, 2023 ).…”

“…After removing duplicates and analyzing the titles/abstracts, 5,283 articles were eliminated, leaving 72 articles selected for full-text analysis. Of these, 12 were considered eligible and included in this systematic review ( Popov et al, 2006 ; Kubo et al, 2019 ; Trindade et al, 2019 ; Barbalho et al, 2020 ; Barbalho et al, 2021 ; Nakamura et al, 2021 ; Short et al, 2021 ; Balshaw et al, 2023 ; Plotkin et al, 2023 ; Wei et al, 2023 ; Kassiano et al, 2024 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ). Additionally, three studies were included in the meta-analysis after the authors sent us additional data via email ( Kubo et al, 2019 ; Plotkin et al, 2023 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ).…”

“…The qualitative assessment of the studies showed a mean score of 19.5 points (moderate, range: 13 to 23 points). Based on the study quality categorization criteria, six studies were good quality ( Kubo et al, 2019 ; Trindade et al, 2019 ; Nakamura et al, 2021 ; Short et al, 2021 ; Balshaw et al, 2023 ; Wei et al, 2023 ), and six were considered moderate quality ( Popov et al, 2006 ; Barbalho et al, 2020 ; Barbalho et al, 2021 ; Plotkin et al, 2023 ; Kassiano et al, 2024 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ). No study included in this systematic review was classified as low quality.…”

Association of Water Intake with Hand Grip Strength in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…The present study also found the inverse relationship of age with HGS in both men and women, regardless of adjustment for confounding factors. This study also showed that BMI and resistance exercise, two other important determinants of HGS [31,32], are independent factors positively correlated with HGS. Several studies investigating the effect of hydration on muscle strength were unable to completely rule out the effect of weight gain due to water intake.…”

Improbable data patterns in the work of Barbalho et al.

“…After performing 1,000,000 simulations, we observed that (A) none of the simulations had a perfect correlation between baseline squat and hip thrust 1RMs, and similarly, (B) none of the simulations had a perfectly homogeneous difference between squat and hip thrust 1RMs. This indicates that the perfect baseline relationship observed by Barbalho et al [73] has a P -value < 1 × 10 −6 .…”

The impact of resistance training on gluteus maximus hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In three studies, combined multiple hip extension exercises, even with single or multi-joint exercises, increased GMax ( Barbalho et al, 2021 ; Kassiano et al, 2024 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ). One study showed that combining single-joint exercises (knee extension and knee flexion exercises) with leg press did not negatively influence GMax increase ( Balshaw et al, 2023 ).…”

“…After removing duplicates and analyzing the titles/abstracts, 5,283 articles were eliminated, leaving 72 articles selected for full-text analysis. Of these, 12 were considered eligible and included in this systematic review ( Popov et al, 2006 ; Kubo et al, 2019 ; Trindade et al, 2019 ; Barbalho et al, 2020 ; Barbalho et al, 2021 ; Nakamura et al, 2021 ; Short et al, 2021 ; Balshaw et al, 2023 ; Plotkin et al, 2023 ; Wei et al, 2023 ; Kassiano et al, 2024 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ). Additionally, three studies were included in the meta-analysis after the authors sent us additional data via email ( Kubo et al, 2019 ; Plotkin et al, 2023 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ).…”

“…The qualitative assessment of the studies showed a mean score of 19.5 points (moderate, range: 13 to 23 points). Based on the study quality categorization criteria, six studies were good quality ( Kubo et al, 2019 ; Trindade et al, 2019 ; Nakamura et al, 2021 ; Short et al, 2021 ; Balshaw et al, 2023 ; Wei et al, 2023 ), and six were considered moderate quality ( Popov et al, 2006 ; Barbalho et al, 2020 ; Barbalho et al, 2021 ; Plotkin et al, 2023 ; Kassiano et al, 2024 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ). No study included in this systematic review was classified as low quality.…”

Association of Water Intake with Hand Grip Strength in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…The present study also found the inverse relationship of age with HGS in both men and women, regardless of adjustment for confounding factors. This study also showed that BMI and resistance exercise, two other important determinants of HGS [31,32], are independent factors positively correlated with HGS. Several studies investigating the effect of hydration on muscle strength were unable to completely rule out the effect of weight gain due to water intake.…”

Improbable data patterns in the work of Barbalho et al.

“…After performing 1,000,000 simulations, we observed that (A) none of the simulations had a perfect correlation between baseline squat and hip thrust 1RMs, and similarly, (B) none of the simulations had a perfectly homogeneous difference between squat and hip thrust 1RMs. This indicates that the perfect baseline relationship observed by Barbalho et al [73] has a P -value < 1 × 10 −6 .…”

The impact of resistance training on gluteus maximus hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In three studies, combined multiple hip extension exercises, even with single or multi-joint exercises, increased GMax ( Barbalho et al, 2021 ; Kassiano et al, 2024 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ). One study showed that combining single-joint exercises (knee extension and knee flexion exercises) with leg press did not negatively influence GMax increase ( Balshaw et al, 2023 ).…”

“…After removing duplicates and analyzing the titles/abstracts, 5,283 articles were eliminated, leaving 72 articles selected for full-text analysis. Of these, 12 were considered eligible and included in this systematic review ( Popov et al, 2006 ; Kubo et al, 2019 ; Trindade et al, 2019 ; Barbalho et al, 2020 ; Barbalho et al, 2021 ; Nakamura et al, 2021 ; Short et al, 2021 ; Balshaw et al, 2023 ; Plotkin et al, 2023 ; Wei et al, 2023 ; Kassiano et al, 2024 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ). Additionally, three studies were included in the meta-analysis after the authors sent us additional data via email ( Kubo et al, 2019 ; Plotkin et al, 2023 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ).…”

“…The qualitative assessment of the studies showed a mean score of 19.5 points (moderate, range: 13 to 23 points). Based on the study quality categorization criteria, six studies were good quality ( Kubo et al, 2019 ; Trindade et al, 2019 ; Nakamura et al, 2021 ; Short et al, 2021 ; Balshaw et al, 2023 ; Wei et al, 2023 ), and six were considered moderate quality ( Popov et al, 2006 ; Barbalho et al, 2020 ; Barbalho et al, 2021 ; Plotkin et al, 2023 ; Kassiano et al, 2024 ; Bartolomei et al, 2024 ). No study included in this systematic review was classified as low quality.…”