Determining the Effect of Shoulder Flexion Angle on Latissimus Dorsi and Forearm Flexor Hypertrophy

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age19-30
SponsorUniversity of British Columbia

About this trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the effect of training a muscle at a longer or shorter muscle length during resistance exercise in young and healthy adults. Participants will undergo two types of resistance training conditions that are randomly assigned to the left and right arm. The LATPULLDOWN (LPD) condition refers to performing an exercise that places the latissimus dorsi muscle at a long muscle length when the shoulder is elevated to 180° of shoulder flexion. The LATROW (LR) condition refers to performing an exercise that places the latissimus dorsi muscle at a shorter muscle length when the shoulder is elevated to 90° of shoulder flexion.

The main questions the trial aims to answer are:

1. Does resistance training the latissimus dorsi muscle at a long muscle length result in greater muscle growth than training at a shorter muscle length? 2. Does resistance training the latissmus dorsi muscle at long or short muscle lengths result in regional muscle growth differences of the latissimus dorsi?

We hypothesize that:

1. LAT PULLDOWN will induce greater hypertrophy compared to LAT ROW condition 2. LAT PULLDOWN will result in greater increases in 1RM compared to LATROW condition 3. LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW will result in angle specific differences in Isokinetic strength 4. LAT PULLDOWN will result in greater inferior Latissimus Dorsi hypertrophy 5. LAT ROW will result in greater superior Latissimus Dorsi hypertrophy

The investigators will compare the change in muscle volume and muscular strength between the LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW training conditions, which each participant will have the left and right arm randomly assigned to either exclusively LAT PULLDOWN or LAT ROW conditions.

Participants will:

* Resistance train the left and right arm with two separate conditions; LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW for 12 weeks, with the first and last weeks dedicated to only strength testing (Isotonic and Isokinetic) and measuring muscle volume via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) * Visit the gym for resistance training 2 times per week * Visit the UBC MRI Research Facility in weeks 1 and 12 for MRI of muscle volume

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Any sex

Able to understand and communicate in English

19-30 years of age

All "No" answers on the CSEP Get Active questionnaire or doctors' approval to participate

Disqualifiers

BMI lower than 18 or greater than 30

Difficulty to understand and communicate in English

Current use of cigarettes or other nicotine devices

Any major uncontrolled cardiovascular, muscular, metabolic, and/or neurological disorders

Trial design

Design model

Single group

Treatments tested in this trial

  • LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW training sessions

    Other intervention

    One arm will be randomly assigned to perform LAT PULLDOWN and the contralateral arm will be randomly assigned to perform LAT ROW on a cable machine. Each exercise will include 1 warm up set at 50% 1RM followed by 4-5 sets of 8-12 repetitions per limb. 2 minutes of rest between sets on the ipsilateral limb with 30s between the contralateral limb. The left and right limbs will alternate each session in which one starts each exercise, resulting in 10 training sessions each where the left and right limbs starts first on each exercise. All sets will be performed to momentary failure. A Dynamic Double Progression will be employed to ensure intensity is maintained throughout the intervention.

  • Maximal isotonic strength testing (1RM)

    Other intervention

    Each limb will perform a 1RM strength test of the Lat Pulldown and Lat Row on the cable machine respectively. Testing will occur in weeks 1 and 12 of the study with the non-dominant arm tested before the dominant arm. Participants self-selects first warm up set with a weight that is performed between 6-10 repetitions on both limbs. Rest for 1 minute between limbs and subsequent set. A weight is then selected by research staff to perform 3 repetitions with based on previous set. Load is now increased until 1RM is achieved. 3 minutes of rest will be taken between 1RM attempts, with 1RM being complete within 3-5 attempts. Participant will rest 3 minutes before starting testing on the other exercise. The 1RM protocol is repeated for the second exercise. Initial strength testing results and progression from the 10 week training intervention will help to inform testing weights for the post strength testing session. Post strength testing will follow the same protocol as pre strength testing.

  • Isokinetic strength testing (1080 Quantum)

    Other intervention

    Participants will engage in isokinetic strength testing on the 1080 Quantum Syncro machine in weeks 1 and 12 for both movements: Shoulder extension from 180° and shoulder extension from 90°. Participants will perform each movement unilaterally. Participants will start with the non-dominant arm. Each movement will be tested through A maximal active range of motion. Participants will complete 10 sub-maximal repetitions to allow familiarization each movement. After a 2-minute rest, participants will complete 4 maximal concentric and eccentric repetitions with 3 minutes rest at 30°/second for 3 sets. The protocol is then repeated on the dominant limb.

Treatment groups

20 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group
Group A: LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW Training ProtocolExperimental treatment 3 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Muscle volume and Cross sectional area

Muscle volume of the latissimus dorsi, biceps brachii, brachialis, posterior deltoid and teres major muscle will be measured by cross sectional area (CSA) via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The entire muscle length will be imaged and images at 25%, 50% and 75% of the entire muscle length will be analyzed to calculate CSA and any regional differences in hypertrophy.

Time frame
From enrolment to the end of the intervention at 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes

1

Isotonic strength testing (1RM)

Isotonic strength testing will compare the magnitude of gains in isotonic strength via a one repetition maximum test (1RM) which is the maximum weight lifted for 1 repetition. Isotonic strength will be measured using a cable machine for a Lat Pulldown and Lat Row exercise. Single arm shoulder extension from 180° and 90° will be tested for 1RM (maximum weight lifted for 1 repetition).

Time frame
Initial testing in week 1 and final testing in week 12
2

Isokinetic strength testing

Isokinetic Strength Testing: Compare the magnitude of gains in isokinetic strength in the LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW conditions for two movements. Single arm shoulder extension from 180° and 90° measured on a 1080 Quantum Syncro set to an isokinetic setting for both the concentric and eccentric contraction phases at 30°/second.

Time frame
Initial testing in week 1 to final testing in week 12

Other outcomes

Locations

This trial has no locations.

Sponsors and contacts

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