Resistance training beyond momentary failure: the effects of past-failure partials on muscle hypertrophy in the gastrocnemius

Muscle hypertrophy is often a desired goal of resistance training, and strategies that extend training beyond momentary failure may enhance muscular adaptations. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess whether performing additional past-failure partial repetitions beyond momentary failure in...

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Main Authors: Stian Larsen, Paul Alan Swinton, Nordis Østerås Sandberg, Benjamin Sandvik Kristiansen, Andrea Bao Fredriksen, Hallvard Nygaard Falch, Roland van den Tillaar, Milo Wolf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1494323/full
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author Stian Larsen
Paul Alan Swinton
Nordis Østerås Sandberg
Benjamin Sandvik Kristiansen
Andrea Bao Fredriksen
Hallvard Nygaard Falch
Roland van den Tillaar
Milo Wolf
author_facet Stian Larsen
Paul Alan Swinton
Nordis Østerås Sandberg
Benjamin Sandvik Kristiansen
Andrea Bao Fredriksen
Hallvard Nygaard Falch
Roland van den Tillaar
Milo Wolf
author_sort Stian Larsen
collection DOAJ
description Muscle hypertrophy is often a desired goal of resistance training, and strategies that extend training beyond momentary failure may enhance muscular adaptations. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess whether performing additional past-failure partial repetitions beyond momentary failure increased muscle hypertrophy. A total of 23 untrained men completed a 10-week within-participant intervention study. This study comprised two weekly resistance training sessions of four sets of standing Smith machine calf raises. One limb was randomly allocated to the control condition performing sets to momentary failure (PLANTARMF), and the other limb was allocated to the test intervention that included additional past-failure partial repetitions in the lengthened position (DORSIvf). Muscle thickness of the medial gastrocnemius muscle was measured both pre- and post-intervention via ultrasound. Data were analysed within a Bayesian framework using a mixed-effect model with random effects to account for the within-participant design. The average treatment effect (ATE) was measured to assess any difference in condition and inferences made based on the ATE posterior distribution and associated Bayes Factor (BF). The main findings were that the PLANTARMF and DORSIVF legs increased medial gastrocnemius hypertrophy by 6.7 and +9.6%, respectively. The results identified an ATE favouring the inclusion of additional partial repetitions (0.62 [95%CrI: 0.21–1.0 mm; p(>0) = 0.998]) with ‘strong’ evidence (BF = 13.3) supporting a priori hypothesis. Therefore, when the goal is to train for maximum gastrocnemius hypertrophy over a relatively short time period, we suggest performing sets beyond momentary failure as a likely superior option.
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spelling doaj-art-1e6b24c8b1fb47ac8c68c144eca83a042025-02-10T06:48:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-02-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14943231494323Resistance training beyond momentary failure: the effects of past-failure partials on muscle hypertrophy in the gastrocnemiusStian Larsen0Paul Alan Swinton1Nordis Østerås Sandberg2Benjamin Sandvik Kristiansen3Andrea Bao Fredriksen4Hallvard Nygaard Falch5Roland van den Tillaar6Milo Wolf7Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nord University, Levanger, NorwayDepartment of Sport and Exercise, School of Health Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United KingdomDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nord University, Levanger, NorwayDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nord University, Levanger, NorwayDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nord University, Levanger, NorwayDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nord University, Levanger, NorwayDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nord University, Levanger, NorwayDepartment of Exercise Science and Recreation, Applied Muscle Development Lab, CUNY Lehman College, Bronx, NY, United StatesMuscle hypertrophy is often a desired goal of resistance training, and strategies that extend training beyond momentary failure may enhance muscular adaptations. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess whether performing additional past-failure partial repetitions beyond momentary failure increased muscle hypertrophy. A total of 23 untrained men completed a 10-week within-participant intervention study. This study comprised two weekly resistance training sessions of four sets of standing Smith machine calf raises. One limb was randomly allocated to the control condition performing sets to momentary failure (PLANTARMF), and the other limb was allocated to the test intervention that included additional past-failure partial repetitions in the lengthened position (DORSIvf). Muscle thickness of the medial gastrocnemius muscle was measured both pre- and post-intervention via ultrasound. Data were analysed within a Bayesian framework using a mixed-effect model with random effects to account for the within-participant design. The average treatment effect (ATE) was measured to assess any difference in condition and inferences made based on the ATE posterior distribution and associated Bayes Factor (BF). The main findings were that the PLANTARMF and DORSIVF legs increased medial gastrocnemius hypertrophy by 6.7 and +9.6%, respectively. The results identified an ATE favouring the inclusion of additional partial repetitions (0.62 [95%CrI: 0.21–1.0 mm; p(>0) = 0.998]) with ‘strong’ evidence (BF = 13.3) supporting a priori hypothesis. Therefore, when the goal is to train for maximum gastrocnemius hypertrophy over a relatively short time period, we suggest performing sets beyond momentary failure as a likely superior option.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1494323/fullcalf raisesproximity-to-failuremuscle thicknessmedial gastrocnemiusultrasound
spellingShingle Stian Larsen
Paul Alan Swinton
Nordis Østerås Sandberg
Benjamin Sandvik Kristiansen
Andrea Bao Fredriksen
Hallvard Nygaard Falch
Roland van den Tillaar
Milo Wolf
Resistance training beyond momentary failure: the effects of past-failure partials on muscle hypertrophy in the gastrocnemius
Frontiers in Psychology
calf raises
proximity-to-failure
muscle thickness
medial gastrocnemius
ultrasound
title Resistance training beyond momentary failure: the effects of past-failure partials on muscle hypertrophy in the gastrocnemius
title_full Resistance training beyond momentary failure: the effects of past-failure partials on muscle hypertrophy in the gastrocnemius
title_fullStr Resistance training beyond momentary failure: the effects of past-failure partials on muscle hypertrophy in the gastrocnemius
title_full_unstemmed Resistance training beyond momentary failure: the effects of past-failure partials on muscle hypertrophy in the gastrocnemius
title_short Resistance training beyond momentary failure: the effects of past-failure partials on muscle hypertrophy in the gastrocnemius
title_sort resistance training beyond momentary failure the effects of past failure partials on muscle hypertrophy in the gastrocnemius
topic calf raises
proximity-to-failure
muscle thickness
medial gastrocnemius
ultrasound
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1494323/full
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