Why does stretching a muscle and generating force lead to gains? Why does it lead to more gains than training a muscle and failing to stretch it? Let’s simplify the 9 scientific reasons ????
We now know lifting over the full ROM and stretching muscles are similar but different. For example, you can use a full ROM on hip thrusts, but not stretch your glutes. What’s more important to produce gains: the ROM or the stretch? We review one of the fastest developing areas of physique and performance research in this article.
We discuss how resistance training signals muscle growth. Then, we apply these concepts of triggering gains to lifting over the full range of motion. What if we told you, you can use a full range of motion when you lift but still limit gains?
We dive deep into the science of muscle movement. What’s happening inside of the muscle as it contracts? What exactly is a short muscle length? What’s a long muscle length? Why does weight feel lighter or heavier in certain spots as we move it over the course of 1 rep?
The length-tension relationship is arguably the most important factor that determines how much force a muscle can generate. We explain what the length-tension relationship is. Having this foundation of knowledge is necessary because we will apply this information later to examine how muscle length and range of motion influence muscle growth.
Here is a summary list of the most important points from the “Dropsets” article.
Reach muscular failure, then continue lifting without changing the weight. Wayment… what? The mechanical dropset is one of the greatest, yet most underutilized tools to get more out of your workouts and sculpt an amazing physique. Find out how to reach failure and keep lifting to further enhance muscle growth and bring the best out of you.
We discuss a variety of ways you can reduce the weight to increase muscle growth, challenge yourself, and have more fun while you lift. Implementing evidence-based and evidence-led strategies can help you take your training to the next level.
We discuss the most common form of a dropset and detail the general principles of using the dropset. How much should you reduce the weight by? What are the key elements you should focus on after reducing the weight? What needs to occur to stimulate growth after reducing the weight?
We highlight the most physiologically-driven reason to perform dropsets and explain why they can be extremely helpful to promote muscle growth when used properly. We’ll discuss muscle fiber types, how are muscles get engaged when we lift, and why our muscles fatigue when lifting. We’ll finish by outlining our 3 key principles when programming dropsets.
We continue assessing the internet’s claims about dropsets and highlighting what is real news and what is fake news through our THICC, scientific perspective. A special emphasis is placed on dropsets as they relate to metabolic stress triggering growth, anabolic hormones, the androgen receptor, training volume, and heart rate. The internet can be a scary place and we’ll debunk the dropset scaries!
We give a brief overview of what a dropset is, then we begin to explore what you’ll find on the internet if you search why you should perform dropsets. We’ll highlight dropsets from the perspectives of shocking your muscles, increasing the intensity of your training, and triggering muscle growth via cell swelling. Applied science incoming!
Here is a summary list of the most important points from the “CAM Machines” article.
We discuss a few exercises that can be performed on CAM machines and expand on the specific biomechanics of how the CAM works. Lastly, we hint at the other key principle of how muscles generate force. The moment arm is only part of equation!
We explain how we move and lift weights. After reading this part, you’ll have a great understanding of how muscles generate force, how the musculoskeletal system is essentially many different levers, and the importance of joints. Many pictures are included to help you grasp the concepts.
The old school view of weightlifting is described as “overcoming the pull of gravity rather than working against machine resistance.” Is this a better way to lift? We also introduce and discuss the practical use of a revolutionary invention in 1970 that forever changed weight training, the CAM.