The Effect of Peak Force At Long and Short Muscle Lengths and the Impact on Muscle Growth and Strength

One side of the body will be randomly assigned to perform exercises in position 3 (LONG) with the other randomly assigned to position 2 (SHORT) of Prime Fitness horizontal shoulder adduction, horizontal shoulder abduction, shoulder abduction and hip extension. Each exercise will include 1 warm up set at 50% 1RM followed by 4-5 sets of 8-12 repetitions per limb. 2 minutes of rest between sets on the same side of body will be administered as the participant will alternate between the right and left limb. The left and right side limbs will alternate each session in which one starts each exercise, resulting in 10 training sessions each where the left and right limbs starts first on each exercise. All sets will be performed to momentary failure. A Dynamic Double Progression will be employed to ensure intensity is maintained.

Each limb will perform a 1RM strength test with each Prime Fitness machine training horizontal shoulder adduction, horizontal shoulder abduction, shoulder abduction and hip extension respectively. Each machine will be set to position 1 (maximal load in mid-range). Testing will occur in weeks 1 and 12 of the study with the non-dominant arm and leg tested before the dominant arm and leg in each exercise. Participants self-selects first warm up set with a weight that is performed between 6-10 repetitions on both limbs. Rest for 1 minute between limbs and subsequent set. A weight is then selected by research staff to perform 3 repetitions with based on previous set. Load is now increased until 1RM is achieved. Rest periods should remain at least 1 minute alternating between limbs, with 1RM being complete within 3-5 attempts. Participant will rest 2-5 minutes before starting testing on the next exercise. Repeat for all exercises. Use pre testing data to inform 1RM attempts for post testing.

Participants will engage in isokinetic strength testing on the isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex) in weeks 1 and 12 for each of the four movements: Horizontal shoulder adduction, horizontal shoulder abduction, shoulder abduction and hip extension. Participants will perform each movement unilaterally. Participants will start with the non-dominant arm and leg for each movement. Each movement will be tested through A maximal active range of motion. Participants will complete 10 sub-maximal repetitions to allow familiarization each movement. After a 2-minute rest, participants will complete 3 maximal concentric and eccentric repetitions with 30 seconds rest at 30 degrees per second before the Biodex is reset for the next movement.

During the first and last LONG and SHORT training session (visit 5 and visit 24), A near infrared spectroscopy sensor (NIRS device) (Trainred) will be affixed to the muscle belly of the deltoid during the lateral raise exercise to measure muscle oxygenation.