Is There a Limit to Muscle Swelling After an Acute Resistance Training Session with Multiple Sets?

Authors

Rex Ruswick, California State University, NorthridgeFollow
Paulo H. Marchetti, California State University, NorthridgeFollow

Abstract

The number of sets per session and muscle group is an important RT variable responsible for the acute influence of cell swelling and chronic gains in muscle mass and strength. PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of multiple sets on muscle thickness after an RT session in recreationally trained subjects. METHODS: Twenty-one resistance-trained subjects were recruited to this study (16 males and 5 females; age 24 ± 2.5 years, total body mass 75.1 ± 11.4 kg, height 171.7 ± 8.8 cm). During the first session, a ten repetitions maximum (10RM) test was applied to the dominant arm to define the external load. During the second session (one week later), all subjects performed a unilateral biceps curl exercise. The subjects were standing in front of the cable pulley machine, using a supinated grip. They lifted the weight stack from complete elbow extension to complete elbow flexion (concentric phase) and then returned to a full elbow extension (eccentric phase). The subjects performed 8 sets of 10RM, 2-min rest, and self-selected velocity. Ultrasound imaging was used to define the muscle thickness (MT) of the elbow flexors before and after all 8 sets. For the elbow flexors, measurements were taken at 60% distal between the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and the acromion process of the scapula. One-way ANOVA was used to test differences between sets for MT. Post-hoc comparisons were performed with the Bonferroni test when necessary. RESULTS: For MT, there were statistical differences between before (pre-test) and all 8 sets (p<0.05). However, after set 5, no statistical differences were observed between sets until the last set (set 8) (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: During acute RT with multiple sets, cellular swelling assessed by MT may be limited to a certain number of sets. The plateau observed in the MT measurement (after the fifth set) may be related to a limit in the physical expansion of the muscle group by the passive tissues surrounding it.

Recommended Citation

Ruswick, Rex and Marchetti, Paulo H. (2024) "Is There a Limit to Muscle Swelling After an Acute Resistance Training Session with Multiple Sets?," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14: Iss. 4, Article 22.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss4/22