What’s This Research About?
What happens if we add static stretching between sets of flywheel resistance training? How will it impact lower limb flexibility, isometric strength, and muscle hypertrophy?
Research on inter-set static stretching is scarce and this is the first paper to examine its effect on muscle strength (isometric, concentric, and eccentric contractions) and muscle hypertrophy.
The authors hypothesized that interset SS could improve muscle strength gains due to the increased time under tension (tensile load) and increased neuromechanical and metabolic stimulus.
TITLE:Effects of Adding Inter-Set Static Stretching to Flywheel Resistance Training on Flexibility, Muscular Strength, and Regional Hypertrophy in Young Men
PUBLICATION: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
DATE: April 2021
AUTHORS: Masatoshi Nakamura, Hirotaka Ikezu, Shigeru Sato, Kaoru Yahata, Ryosuke Kiyono, Riku Yoshida, Kosuke Takeuchi, and Joao Pedro Nunes
Flywheel RT: Flywheel resistance training is a relatively new training method that emphasizes the eccentric phase of movement through inertial force generated by the rotating flywheel instead of weights. It tends to be effective for increasing muscle strength and hypertrophy even in the first 5 weeks of training. The flywheel equipment used in this study was the kBOX4 Lite Advanced System and the Exxentric AB, Stockholm Sweden.
Hypertrophy: Increase in size of the cross-sectional area of muscle fiber cells after training.