ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana - Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2022 July-August;181(7-8):507-15

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.21.04646-5

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The accommodated resistance training method significantly improves deadlift relative maximal strength more than the classic plate loaded method in male classic powerlifters

Pierre-Marc FERLAND ¹ ✉, Nicolas TREMBLAY ², Maxime ALLISSE ², Alain S. COMTOIS ¹, Hung T. BUI ^{2, 3}, Mario LEONE ^{2, 3}

¹ Department of Physical Activity Sciences, University of Quebec in Montreal (UQÀM), Montreal, QC, Canada; ² Department of Health Sciences, University of Québec in Chicoutimi (UQÀC), Saguenay, QC, Canada; ³ Department of Medicine, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

BACKGROUND: This study compared the absolute (kg) and relative (Wilks pts) maximal strength (MS) gains between the accommodated resistance (AR) and the classic plate loaded (CPL) training methods.
METHODS: Seventeen (17) powerlifters were separated into two groups [experimental (EG; N.=9) and control (CG; N.=8)]. Both followed the same 9-week, 4 times a week, 2-hour, wave-like percentage-based training program with pre and post MS powerlifting testing measures except that the EG trained with a 25% added AR (elastic bands or chains) and 80% of the CPL bar weight. Elastic band resistance relative to bar height for all powerlifting movements was measured with a stadiometer. A two-way repeated measure ANOVA was performed. Effect sizes (ES) were calculated with Morris’ estimate effect size.
RESULTS: The EG significantly (P<0.05) improved more in the Deadlift Wilks pts and Total Wilks pts (+6.3±3.9% vs. 0.1.±5.9%; ES=0.55 and 6.3±5.1% vs. 2.1±2.3%; ES=0.24 respectively), that the EG trended (P>0.05) towards improving more in the Squat Kg (+6.5±9.7% vs. 2.8±3.0%; ES=-0.04), Squat Wilks pts (+9.5±11.6% vs. 2.9±3.2%; ES=0.21), Deadlift Kg (3.5±3.7% vs. 0.0±5.4%; ES=0.19) and Total Kg (3.4±3.5% vs. 2.0±2.4%; ES=0.03). In contrast, the CG trended (P>0.05) towards improving more in the Bench Kg (4.3±3.5% vs. -0.1±6.9%; ES=-0.16) and Bench Wilks pts (4.3±4.0% vs. 2.6±7.5%; ES=0.1).
CONCLUSIONS: The present AR technique produces significantly greater relative MS gains when prescribing deadlifts twice a week.

KEY WORDS: Endurance training; Weight lifting; Sports