A randomised controlled trial of different leg extension exercises to increase quadriceps muscle strength in female students

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Biette, Nicolas^{a; b} | Tourny-Chollet, Claire^{a; b} | Beuret-Blanquart, Françoise^a

Affiliations: [a] Groupe de Recherche sur le Handicap de l'Appareil Locomoteur (GRHAL), University of Rouen, France | [b] Centre d'Etudes des Transformations des Activités Physiques et Sportives (CETAPS), Faculty of Sport Sciences (JE 2318), Université of Rouen, France

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Nicolas Biette, cidex 16, 76116 Martainville-Epreville, France. Tel./Fax: +33 232 10 77 93; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two different types of resistance training in sedentary women. Twenty students were assigned to three groups: concentric training (CT), combined concentric and isometric training (ICT) and control (CN). The training protocol consisted of 8 weeks × 3 days. The results demonstrated improvements in both groups. However, greater isometric strength gains were achieved among ICT subjects but no difference regarding the concentric mode. The results indicate that quadriceps muscle strength may be greatly improved by combined training as compared to concentric training alone.

Keywords: strength, knee extensors, training, isometric/concentric, women

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2004-0176

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 209-213, 2004