New Evidence Suggests Low Intensity, Slow Resistance Training as Effective as High Intensity Training

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Skinny Girl's Quest for Muscle
New Evidence Suggests Low Intensity, Slow Resistance Training as Effective as High Intensity Training


Famous exercise researcher Dr. Izumi Tabata studied the effects of training with heavy weights vs. lighter weights, and the speed the lifts were performed. He found that individual's using lighter weights (55-60% of 1 rep. max) and lifted very slowly with 3 seconds for eccentric and concentric phases of the lift with no resting period were able to gain just as much muscle mass as the study group lifting heavier weights, more quickly with a 3 second rest period.

Here is the research abstract:


J Strength Cond Res. 2008 Nov;22(6):1926-38.

Effects of whole-body low-intensity resistance training with slow movement and tonic force generation on muscular size and strength in young men.

Tanimoto M, Sanada K, Yamamoto K, Kawano H, Gando Y, Tabata I, Ishii N, Miyachi M.

Division of Health Promotion and Exercise, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan. tanimoto@nih.go.jp

Our previous study showed that relatively low-intensity (approximately 50% one-repetition maximum [1RM]) resistance training (knee extension) with slow movement and tonic force generation (LST) caused as significant an increase in muscular size and strength as high-intensity (approximately 80% 1RM) resistance training with normal speed (HN). However, that study examined only local effects of one type of exercise (knee extension) on knee extensor muscles. The present study was performed to examine whether a whole-body LST resistance training regimen is as effective on muscular hypertrophy and strength gain as HN resistance training. Thirty-six healthy young men without experience of regular resistance training were assigned into three groups (each n = 12) and performed whole-body resistance training regimens comprising five types of exercise (vertical squat, chest press, latissimus dorsi pull-down, abdominal bend, and back extension: three sets each) with LST (approximately 55-60% 1RM, 3 seconds for eccentric and concentric actions, and no relaxing phase); HN (approximately 80-90% 1RM, 1 second for concentric and eccentric actions, 1 second for relaxing); and a sedentary control group (CON). The mean repetition maximum was eight-repetition maximum in LST and HN. The training session was performed twice a week for 13 weeks. The LST training caused significant (p <>


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