Effect of different periodic structures on muscle adaptation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of differences in the length of training cycles under combined application of two resistance training types with different purposes on muscle cross-sectional area, muscular strength, anaerobic power, and anaerobic endurance. The subjects were 14 male college football players (freshman) with no previous muscular strength training experience for at least 12 months, and were arbitrarily divided into long-cycle and short-cycle groups (7 subjects in each). The subjects performed training twice a week for 8 weeks. The bulk-up-type (hypertrophy type) training method and strength-up type were alternately applied every 4 weeks in the long-cycle group and every 2 weeks in the short-cycle group. As a result, it was suggested that longcycle training was effective for developing muscular strength at relatively low speed and anaerobic endurance, whereas short-cycle training was effective for developing muscular strength at high speed. These results indicate that it is necessary to determine the length of the training cycle according to the aim of each individual.