Forced Reps For Accelerated Muscle Growth And Strength!
Fitness Rx for Men|Spring 2017

Advanced weightlifting techniques manipulate specific training variables such as load, sets and repetition range, in order to more efficiently improve lean muscle size and strength.

Michael J. Rudolph, Ph.D.
Forced Reps For Accelerated Muscle Growth And Strength!

One of the more well known and widely used advanced training methods is the forced repetition 1 , which involves assistance from a spotter to perform additional repetitions during the concentric phase of the lift, after muscular failure has occurred from the previously performed repetitions within the set.

Despite the popularity of forced repetitions, there is a shortage of scientific evidence supporting the ability of forced repetitions to enhance strength. In fact, one of the few studies out there looking at the impact of forced repetitions on strength actually suggests that forced repetitions may not promote strength at all. Furthermore, there are only a few studies supporting the use of forced repetitions to trigger muscle growth.

So, why is this training method so popular when the science supporting its effectiveness is so weak? Well, that is probably because this training method does boost size and strength— but science just hasn’t done the right set of experiments yet, particularly when it comes to strength increases, to support the notion that forced repetitions can accelerate muscle growth and strength.

FORCED REPETITIONS AND STRENGTH GAINS

This story is from the Spring 2017 edition of Fitness Rx for Men.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Spring 2017 edition of Fitness Rx for Men.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FITNESS RX FOR MENView All
Better Abs, Better Sex
Fitness Rx for Men

Better Abs, Better Sex

It doesn’t matter if you were naughty or nice; better abs and better sex did not magically appear over the holidays.

time-read
6 mins  |
Spring 2017
Forced Reps For Accelerated Muscle Growth And Strength!
Fitness Rx for Men

Forced Reps For Accelerated Muscle Growth And Strength!

Advanced weightlifting techniques manipulate specific training variables such as load, sets and repetition range, in order to more efficiently improve lean muscle size and strength.

time-read
5 mins  |
Spring 2017
Fitness Rx for Men

The 600-Rep Killer Leg Workout

Get Tough! Are you Man Enough?

time-read
5 mins  |
January 2017
Fitness Rx for Men

5 Metabolism Boosting Fat-Blasting Workouts for 2017

Extreme Training with Cory Gregory.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2017
Top 30 Hardcore Facts on Supplementation
Fitness Rx for Men

Top 30 Hardcore Facts on Supplementation

As you know, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to training and eating right if you want to achieve a ripped physique. But more and more research is revealing the benefits of supplements for health, performance, fat loss, improved training, lean muscle building and more. So we put together 30 of the best researched-based tips on supplementation. Take your training and performance to a whole new level with these surefire tips for success.

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2016
American War Hero Noah Galloway
Fitness Rx for Men

American War Hero Noah Galloway

On the Battleground and in the Gym.

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2016
The M.A.X. Muscle Plan
Fitness Rx for Men

The M.A.X. Muscle Plan

Partial versus full range of motion: which is better for building muscle?

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2016
Supplement Edge
Fitness Rx for Men

Supplement Edge

The Ultimate Post-workout Muscle Growth Stack!

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2016
The Advantage of Total-body Workouts
Fitness Rx for Men

The Advantage of Total-body Workouts

Do Bodybuilders Have It Wrong?

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2016
Are Drop sets a Beneficial Technique for Enhancing Muscle Growth?
Fitness Rx for Men

Are Drop sets a Beneficial Technique for Enhancing Muscle Growth?

The potential for higher muscle activation and heightened metabolic stress provides a logical basis for increasing anabolism through a variety of mechanistic factors.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2016