Comparison of changes in lean body mass with a strength- versus muscle endurance-based resistance training program

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of resistance training (RT) with an emphasis on either muscular strength-type RT or muscular endurance-type RT on measures of body composition.

Methods

Twenty-five resistance-trained men (age 28.4 ± 6.4 years; body mass 75.9 ± 8.4 kg; height 176.9 ± 7.5 cm) were randomly assigned to either a strength-type RT group that performed three sets of 6–8 repetition maximum (RM) with 3-min rest (n = 10), an endurance-type RT group that performed three sets of 20–25 RM with a 60-s rest interval (n = 10), or a control group (n = 5, CG). All groups completed each set until muscular failure and were supervised to follow a hyperenergetic diet (39 kcal·kg⁻¹·day⁻¹). Body composition changes were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Results

After 8 weeks, we found significant increases in total body mass (0.9 [0.3–1.5] kg; p < 0.05; ES = < 0.2) and lean body mass (LBM) (1.3 [0.5–2.2] kg; p < 0.05; ES = 0.31) only in the strength-type RT group; however, no significant interactions were noted between groups.

Conclusions

Although only strength-type RT showed statistically significant increases in LBM from baseline, no between-group differences were noted for any body composition outcome. These findings suggest that LBM gains in resistance trained are not significantly influenced by the type of training stimulus over an 8-week training period.

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