Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports

Volume 34, Issue 12 e14772

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Does Unilateral High-Load Resistance Training Influence Strength Change in the Contralateral Arm Also Undergoing High-Load Training?

Jun Seob Song,

Jun Seob Song

Department of Counseling, Health, and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA

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Yujiro Yamada,

Yujiro Yamada

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

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Ryo Kataoka,

Ryo Kataoka

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

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William B. Hammert,

William B. Hammert

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

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Anna Kang,

Anna Kang

orcid.org/0000-0003-0230-9418

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

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Robert W. Spitz,

Robert W. Spitz

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA

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Vickie Wong,

Vickie Wong

Department of Sport and Health, Solent University, Southampton, Hampshire, UK

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Aldo Seffrin,

Aldo Seffrin

orcid.org/0000-0001-8229-8565

Postgraduate Program in Translation Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

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Witalo Kassiano,

Witalo Kassiano

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

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Jeremy P. Loenneke,

Corresponding Author

Jeremy P. Loenneke

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0001-5409-9075

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

Correspondence:

Jeremy P. Loenneke ([email protected])

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Jun Seob Song,

Jun Seob Song

Department of Counseling, Health, and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA

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Yujiro Yamada,

Yujiro Yamada

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

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Ryo Kataoka,

Ryo Kataoka

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

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William B. Hammert,

William B. Hammert

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

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Anna Kang,

Anna Kang

orcid.org/0000-0003-0230-9418

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

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Robert W. Spitz,

Robert W. Spitz

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA

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Vickie Wong,

Vickie Wong

Department of Sport and Health, Solent University, Southampton, Hampshire, UK

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Aldo Seffrin,

Aldo Seffrin

orcid.org/0000-0001-8229-8565

Postgraduate Program in Translation Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

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Witalo Kassiano,

Witalo Kassiano

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

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Jeremy P. Loenneke,

Corresponding Author

Jeremy P. Loenneke

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0001-5409-9075

Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management. Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi, USA

Correspondence:

Jeremy P. Loenneke ([email protected])

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First published: 25 November 2024

https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14772

Citations: 3

Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work.

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ABSTRACT

Training one limb with a high-load has been shown to augment strength changes in the opposite limb training with a low-load (via cross-education of strength), indicating that within-subject models can be problematic when investigating strength changes. This study examined if the cross-education of strength from unilateral high-load training could augment the strength changes in the opposite arm undergoing the same unilateral high-load training. 160 participants were randomized to one of four groups: (1) training on the dominant arm followed by the non-dominant arm (D + ND), (2) training on the dominant arm only (D-Only), (3) training on the non-dominant arm only (ND-Only), and (4) a non-exercise control. All exercise groups performed 18 sessions of unilateral high-load elbow flexion exercise over 6 weeks. Participants were compared for changes in 1RM strength and muscle thickness. Changes in strength of the non-dominant arm were greater in D + ND (2.7 kg) and ND-Only (2.6 kg) compared to D-Only (1.5 kg) and control (−0.2 kg), while the changes were greater in D-Only compared to control. The same finding was observed in the dominant arm. Only the arms being directly trained observed increases in muscle thickness. Unilateral high-load resistance training increased strength in the opposite untrained arm, without changes in muscle thickness. This cross-education of strength did not augment the strength changes in the contralateral arm undergoing the same unilateral high-load training. However, it does not necessarily indicate that within-subject models are methodologically sound to investigate strength change if both limbs are trained with a high-load.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Supporting Information

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Volume34, Issue12

December 2024

e14772

Does Unilateral High-Load Resistance Training Influence Strength Change in the Contralateral Arm Also Undergoing High-Load Training?

ABSTRACT

Conflicts of Interest

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

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Does Unilateral High-Load Resistance Training Influence Strength Change in the Contralateral Arm Also Undergoing High-Load Training?

ABSTRACT

Conflicts of Interest

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

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