The effects of no load training

[Patrick]

Hello,
if you are interested I wrote a blog post on a relatively new study on "NO LOAD" training, which is basically working with co-contractions (visualized resistance training).

Lately I came across a new interesting study which compared weight training to resistance training where participants contracted as hard as they could through the full range of motion without using any load. This is one of the training principles of Focused Muscular Tension based exercises, see http://dhyana-fitness.at/wordpress/focu ... exercises/. One of the authors was kind enough to send me the article via Research Gate. The study design comprises two training conditions.

http://dhyana-fitness.at/wordpress/the- ... -training/

[I-mon]

Thanks for these mate I read the last one as well, don't necessarily have much to say on the topic myself, but keep posting them please!

[Patrick]

Thank you Simon, will do

[Patrick]

Too bad Tsurugi is not here, would love to hear his opinion.

[David Boxen]

Just a couple of thoughts about the study: Almost anything will work on untrained individuals, it's called the novice effect. And basing strength training protocols on % of 1 rep max doesn't make sense for people that are untrained.

Strength training is a pretty simple and straightforward process. I suppose if you don't have access to barbells then you do what you can.

[Steve James]

Yeah, there's a novice effect. But, it's also true that any attribute can be improved. The problem is that the more improvement there is, the more difficult it becomes to improve. I.e., it's easier to go from running a 10 minute mile to running it in 9 minutes than it will be to drop from 5 to 4. The same goes for strength training. Almost anyone can improve. It's just a lot harder for Usain Bolt or a world class lifter.

Afa visualizing resistance, I think that the mind can recreate lots of things, and the body can't necessarily tell the difference. I don't think that the effects of visualization can be the same as physical exertion. The easiest way to find out is to compare subjects who've trained for the same activity.