Changes in muscle hypertrophy in women with periodized resistance training.
OBJECTIVE
Adaptations of arm and thigh muscle hypertrophy to different long-term periodized resistance training programs and the influence of upper body resistance training were examined.


METHODS
Eighty-five untrained women (mean age = 23.1 +/- 3.5 yr) started in one of the following groups: total-body training [TP, N = 18 (3-8 RM training range) and TH, N = 21 (8-12 RM training range)], upper-body training [UP, N = 21 (3-8 RM training range) and UH, N = 19, (8-12 RM training range)], or a control group (CON, N = 6). Training took place on three alternating days per week for 24 wk. Assessments of body composition, muscular performance, and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were determined pretraining (T1), and after 12 (T2) and 24 wk (T3) of training.


RESULTS
Arm CSA increased at T2 (approximately 11%) and T3 (approximately 6%) in all training groups and thigh CSA increased at T2 (approximately 3%) and T3 (approximately 4.5%) only in TP and TH. Squat one-repetition maximum (1 RM) increased at T2 (approximately 24%) and T3 (approximately 11.5%) only in TP and TH and all training groups increased 1 RM bench press at T2 (approximately 16.5%) and T3 (approximately 12.4%). Peak power produced during loaded jump squats increased from T1 to T3 only in TP (12%) and TH (7%). Peak power during the ballistic bench press increased at T2 only in TP and increased from T1 to T3 in all training groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Training specificity was supported (as sole upper-body training did not influence lower-body musculature) along with the inclusion of heavier loading ranges in a periodized resistance-training program. This may be advantageous in a total conditioning program directed at development of muscle tissue mass in young women.
Kraemer
William J
WJ
Human Performance Laboratory Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-1110, USA. William.Kraemer@uconn.edu
Nindl
Bradley C
BC
Ratamess
Nicholas A
NA
Gotshalk
Lincoln A
LA
Volek
Jeff S
JS
Fleck
Steven J
SJ
Newton
Robert U
RU
Häkkinen
Keijo
K
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D013848:Thigh / Q000502:physiology; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*