title: The effect of high speed strength training with heavy and low workloads on neuromuscular function and maximal concentric quadriceps strength.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dynamic strength training has been widely used to increase the ability of skeletal muscle to produce muscle force. Manipulating resistance training program variables has been commonly used as a tool to optimize maximum strength. This study examined the effects of 12 weeks of high-speed strength training with low and heavy workloads on muscle strength and neuromuscular function of quadriceps muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male subjects (age, mean±SD, 20.6±2.6 yr, body mass 70.4±12.9 kg, height 1.76±0.09 m) with no history of knee injury or trauma participated to the study. Subjects were randomly divided into two training groups, low workload training (40% 1RM) and heavy workload training (80% 1RM). One repetition of maximum leg-press measured before and after 12 weeks training. Moreover, surface electromyograpic signals were recorded from vastus medialis and lateralis muscle during one repetition of maximum leg-press before and after 12 weeks training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High speed training with heavy workload-low repetition resulted in a greater increase (41.8%±4.3) in maximal concentric quadriceps strength compared with high speed training with low workloads-high repetition (23.3%±2.7; F=3.8, P<0.035). Average rectified value of EMG after 12 weeks high speed training with heavy workload- low repetition was significantly larger than those observed after high speed training with low workload- high repetition (F=5.5, P<0.039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result indicates that, high speed movement combined with heavy workload is an effective stimulus for neural adaptations to training, which in turn result in greater improvement in muscle strength.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Science, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mazani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Science, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamed R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hamedinia
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Science, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Haghighi
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomechanic and Motor Control (BMC), Department of Sport Science, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran - n.hedayatpour@ub.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Nosratollah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hedayatpour
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054874:Athletic Performance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult