The Hornberger Lab

Andrew Judge @andyjudge24 · 5d

myology.institute.ufl.edu/conferences/mu…
Integrated view of muscle biology and physiology ✅
F, K and R workshops included ✅
Multiple opportunities for trainees to be heard ✅
Abstract deadline for consideration of short talks - Dec 14. See you there??

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Brad Schoenfeld, PhD Verified account @BradSchoenfeld · Oct 11

Lengthened partial repetitions have received considerable attention as a strategy for maximizing muscle hypertrophy. Most research indicates that the lengthened portion of a rep is more hypertrophic than the shortened portion. But research comparing lengthened partials vs full ROM training have produced mixed results.

A new study from @drmikeroberts lab, led by Daniel Plotkin, sheds additional light on the topic (PMID: 42841600). The study employed a within-subject design in resistance-trained men, with one leg assigned to lengthened partials and the other to full ROM. Training was performed twice weekly using leg presses, leg extensions, and lying leg curls for 8 weeks. Whole muscle growth was assessed using MRI and fiber type growth assessed by biopsy.

Results showed both conditions promoted appreciable growth of the vastus lateralis, with no clear difference between conditions in CSA or fiber type hypertrophy. Moreover, both protocols produced broadly similar changes in anabolic signaling and gene expression following exercise.

Notably, these findings were only a portion of the overall study, which also included MRI of the lower body muscles. Based on the preprint, quad and glute hypertrophy was similar between conditions. Interestingly, however, lengthened partials showed a tendency to produce greater overall hamstring hypertrophy, largely driven by greater growth of the semitendinosus. This suggests that the effects of ROM manipulation may be muscle- and exercise-specific.

From a practical standpoint, these findings challenge the notion that lengthened partials are universally superior to full ROM training for hypertrophy—consistent with a study from our lab on the topic (PMID: 39959841), amongst others. Both approaches appear capable of producing meaningful muscle growth, even in experienced lifters. However, the potential advantages of lengthened partials may depend on the specific muscle and exercise being trained.

Bottom Line: Rather than establishing one approach as universally superior, the emerging evidence suggests that the hypertrophic benefits of different ROM strategies may be muscle-specific. It is also conceivable that combining approaches could produce complementary, or perhaps even synergistic, hypertrophic adaptations. Moreover, given the joint-angle specificity of strength adaptations, incorporating a substantial amount of full ROM training would seem prudent to maximize the overall benefits of resistance training.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42841600/

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David M. Sabatini @DMSabatini · Sep 26

This paper is important: physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP…

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