title: Effect of the flexibility training performed immediately before resistance training on muscle hypertrophy, maximum strength and flexibility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been suggested that flexibility training may reduce the total volume of training during resistance trainings. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of flexibility training immediately before resistance training (FLEX-RT) versus resistance training without flexibility training (RT) on maximum strength and the vastus lateralis muscle cross-sectional area (CSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants had each leg assigned to RT or FLEX-RT. Both groups performed four sets of leg extensions to voluntary failure of 80% of one repetition maximum (1RM); however, FLEX-RT performed two sets of 25 s of static stretching before resistance training. Number of repetitions and total volume were calculated during weeks 1-5 and 6-10. Vastus lateralis muscle CSA, 1RM, and flexibility were assessed at baseline and after 10 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of repetitions and total training volume were greater for RT than FLEX-RT for weeks 1-5 and 6-10. Regarding the vastus lateralis muscle CSA, a main time effect was observed, however, greater change was observed for RT than FLEX-RT (12.7 and 7.4%, respectively). A main time effect for 1RM was also observed with similar changes for RT and FLEX-RT (12.7 and 12.9%, respectively). Flexibility was increased pre- to post-training for FLEX-RT with greater change for FLEX-RT (10.1%) than RT (2.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that performing flexibility training immediately before resistance training can contribute to a lower number of repetitions, total volume, and muscle hypertrophy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Érico Veríssimo Avenue, 701, Caixa Postal 6134, Campinas, São Paulo, CEP: 13083-851, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto Moriggi
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Junior
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Érico Veríssimo Avenue, 701, Caixa Postal 6134, Campinas, São Paulo, CEP: 13083-851, Brazil. ricardoberton88@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berton
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Érico Veríssimo Avenue, 701, Caixa Postal 6134, Campinas, São Paulo, CEP: 13083-851, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Mattos Frota
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Érico Veríssimo Avenue, 701, Caixa Postal 6134, Campinas, São Paulo, CEP: 13083-851, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mara Patrícia Traina
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Chacon-Mikahil
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Érico Veríssimo Avenue, 701, Caixa Postal 6134, Campinas, São Paulo, CEP: 13083-851, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Regina
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cavaglieri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods
keywords: Range of motion; Resistance exercise; Skeletal muscle; Stretching