Comparison of Multiple Sets and Progressive Single Set of Resistance Training on Muscle Mass and Strength in Rat

Aram, Yoon; Jun-Young, Hong; Soon-Mi, Choi; Dong-Woo, Hahn; Ki-Jeong, Kim; Suk-Ho, Lee; Aram, Yoon; Jun-Young, Hong; Soon-Mi, Choi; Dong-Woo, Hahn; Ki-Jeong, Kim; Suk-Ho, Lee

doi:2015.24.3.267

Exerc Sci > Volume 24(3); 2015 > Article

Original Article

Exercise Science 2015;24(3): 267-274. doi: https://doi.org/10.15857/ksep.2015.24.3.267

Comparison of Multiple Sets and Progressive Single Set of Resistance Training on Muscle Mass and Strength in Rat

Yoon Aram¹⁾, Hong Jun-Young²⁾, Choi Soon-Mi³⁾, Hahn Dong-Woo¹⁾, Kim Ki-Jeong⁴⁾, Lee Suk-Ho^5)*

¹The University of Texas at Austin
²University of Houston
³Midwestern State University
⁴University of Ulsan
⁵Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Correspondence

Lee Suk-Ho , Tel: +001-210-784-2537, Email: slee@tamusa.tamus.edu

Received: May 7, 2015; Accepted: August 7, 2015. Published online: August 30, 2015.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:
The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of different resistance protocols on muscle mass and function in rats.
METHODS:
Thirty two Sprague-Dawley female rats, 8 weeks of age, were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8 in each group): control (CON), resistance training 1 (RT1; 6 to 8 reps/1 set, every 3rd day), resistance training 2 (RT2; 5 reps/3 sets, every other day), resistance training 3 (RT3; 5 reps/3 sets, twice a day, every 3rd day). Ladder climbing was used as the resistance training method.
RESULTS:
Muscle mass and cross sectional area (CSA) of flexor hallucis longus (FHL) and extensor carpi radialis (ECR) were increased in all resistance training groups (p<.05). Grip strength was significantly increased in RT3 group (p<.05). Peak twitch tension (Pt) was increased in RT1 and RT3 group, while peak tetanic tension (Po) was increased only in RT3 group (p<.05). There was no change of total protein concentration after training, however, myofibrillar protein contents were significantly increased in FHL and ECR muscles in all training groups.
CONCLUSIONS:
It is concluded that different resistance training protocol effectively induced the muscle hypertrophy by increasing myofibrillar protein contents. RT1, a low volume progressive single set resistance training protocol, is as effective as traditional high volume multi sets training protocol (RT2 and RT3) for increasing muscle strength in animal model.

Key words: Resistance training, Ladder climbing, Muscle contractile properties, Muscular protein