Is there bilateral deficit in the practice of 10RM in arm and leg exercises?

Abstracts

Os exercícios resistidos (ER) podem ser realizados de forma uni e bilateral. Dependendo da forma pela qual o movimento é conduzido, verifica-se a presença do déficit bilateral. Os estudos de déficit bilateral concentraram seus esforços na investigação do fenômeno em exercícios realizados com uma repetição máxima e pouco se sabe sobre o seu comportamento em exercícios com várias repetições. O presente estudo teve como objetivos: a) comparar a carga obtida em 10 repetições máximas (10RM) nos diferentes dimídios corporais em exercícios de braços e pernas; b) comparar a soma das ações unilaterais com os resultados obtidos bilateralmente nos mesmos exercícios. Foram avaliadas 20 mulheres treinadas com idade entre 18 e 30 anos (24 ± 6 anos) no teste de 10RM de forma uni e bilateral nos exercícios selecionados. A análise estatística foi realizada pelo teste t de Student pareado, para verificar a existência de diferença entre os membros, bem como no somatório dos dois membros separadamente em relação ao trabalho realizado bilateralmente. Para todos os procedimentos considerou-se um nível de significância de p < 0,05. Não foram verificadas diferenças para as cargas manipuladas nos dois seguimentos em ambos os exercícios, o mesmo não ocorrendo com a soma das cargas nos trabalhos unilaterais com as obtidas bilateralmente. Isso demonstra que a realização do trabalho bilateral em situações habituais de treinamento envolvendo 10RM promove maior manipulação de carga em relação ao trabalho unilateral, diferentemente do que é evidenciado em relação ao déficit bilateral para 1RM. Em conclusão, ao menos nos exercícios selecionados, não se evidenciou ocorrência de déficit bilateral. Futuros estudos devem ser conduzidos para melhor entender o fenômeno do déficit bilateral nas situações habituais de treinamento.

Força muscular; Treinamento de força; Exercícios unilaterais; Exercícios bilaterais

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Is there bilateral deficit in the practice of 10RM in arm and leg exercises?

¿Hay déficit bilateral al realizar 10RM en ejercicios de brazos y piernas?

Walace David Monteiro^{I, II, III}; Roberto Simão^{IV, V}

^ILaboratory of Exercise Physiology Institute of Science of Physical Education of the Air Force (ISPEAF)

^IILaboratory of Physical Education and Health Promotion State University of Rio de Janeiro (LABSAU-UERJ)

^IIIGraduation Program in Science of Physical Education – Salgado de Oliveira University (UNIVERSO)

^IVGama Filho University (UGF-CEPAC)

^VPetrópolis Catholic University (UCP)

^{Correspondence to}

ABSTRACT

Resistance exercises can be done uni or bilaterally. Depending on the way by which the movement is conducted, the presence of bilateral deficit (BD) is observed. BD studies have concentrated their effort on the investigation of the phenomenon in exercises done with one single maximum repetition and little is known about their behavior in exercises with many repetitions. The aims of this study were: a) to compare the load in 10 repetition maximum (10RM) in the different sides of the body in exercises done with arms and legs. b) To compare the sum of the unilateral actions with the bilateral results in the same exercises. Twenty trained women between 18 and 30 years old (24 ± 6) were evaluated in uni and bilateral 10RM test in the selected exercises. The statistics analysis was t-test paired, to verify the difference between limbs and the sum of the two limbs separately in relation to bilateral load. Significance level was p < 0.05 for all procedures. No difference was found in the manipulated loads in both members, the same not occurring with the sum of unilateral load compared to bilateral. This demonstrates that the practice of bilateral work in routine situation of training involving 10RM promotes a greater manipulation of load in relation to unilateral work, differently from what is seen in BD in 1RM. In conclusion, at least in the selected exercises, BD was not found. Future studies should be done for better understanding of the BD phenomenon during training routine.

Keywords: Muscular strength. Strength training. Unilateral exercises. Bilateral exercises.

RESUMEN

Los ejercicios resistidos (ER) pueden ser realizados de forma unilateral y bilateral. Dependiendo de la forma como el movimiento es conducido, se verifica la presencia de déficit bilateral. Los estudios de déficit bilateral concentraron sus esfuerzos en la investigación del fenómeno en ejercicios realizados con repetición máxima y poco se sabe sobre su comportamiento en ejercicios con varias repeticiones. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivos: a) comparar la carga obtenida en 10 repeticiones máximas (10RM) en los diferentes segmentos corporales en ejercicios de brazos y piernas; b) comparar la suma de las acciones unilaterales con los resultados obtenidos bilateralmente en los mismos ejercicios. Fueron evaluadas 20 mujeres preparadas con edades entre 18 y 30 años (24 ± 6 años) en el test de 10RM de forma uni e bilateral en los ejercicios seleccionados. El análisis estadístico fue realizado por el test t-Student pareado, para verificar la existencia de diferencia entre los miembros, bien como la suma de los dos miembros por separado en relación al trabajo realizado bilateralmente. Para todos los procedimientos se consideró como grado de significancia p < 0,05. No se verificaron diferencias para las cargas manipuladas en los dos seguimientos en ambos ejercicios, lo que no ocurrió con la suma de las cargas en los trabajos unilaterales respecto a las obtenidas bilateralmente. Eso muestra que la realización de trabajo bilateral en situaciones habituales de entrenamiento envolviendo 10RM promueve una mayor manipulación de carga en relación al trabajo unilateral, en contraste a lo que es verificado en relación al déficit bilateral para 1RM. En conclusión, al menos en los ejercicios seleccionados, no se constató ocurrencia de déficit bilateral. Futuros estudios deben ser conducidos para entender mejor el fenómeno del déficit bilateral en situaciones habituales de entrenamiento.

Palabras-clave: Fuerza muscular. Entrenamientos de potencia. Ejercicios unilaterales. Ejercicios bilaterales.

INTRODUCTION

The strength training can be applied through many prescription variables. Among them, the used loads, the number of series and repetitions, the interval between them, and others can be named^(1-3). Depending on the population and the aim with the prescription of training, the sum involving those variables may act differently^(4-7).

An ideal combination of variables that represent volume and intensity of strength is one of the crucial points in the training elaboration. Although we recognize that some prescription variables can express not only the volume but also the intensity, usually the number of series and repetitions associate more closely to the training volume. Fleck and Kraemer⁽⁸⁾ highlight that one of the means to calculate the training volume is to multiply the sum of the raised weight by the number of repetitions done in one or more series. One of the aspects that can influence in the volume of the work in one training session has to do with the means of conducting the exercises. In that case, the work can be done in a bilateral or unilateral way. The strength developed during bilateral actions is usually lower than the sum of the strength developed by each limb^(9-12). According to some authors, such difference called bilateral deficit, can be associated to the following aspects: reduced stimulation of motor units, neural recruiting differentiated by the crossed effect in the extra-pyramidal tract, fiber differences in the limbs, predominance of use of one limb over the other, resulting in a lower production of strenght^(11-13). Although the mechanisms responsible for the bilateral deficit are not very clear yet, it seems to be a consensus that the execution of the RE with simultaneous muscular actions tend to reduce the bilateral deficit, in relation to the work represented by the sum of the unilateral action of the strenght^(10,14,15).

Many studies have been conducted with the purpose to investigate the bilateral deficit in exercises involving 1RM^(9-11,15). Moreover, this seems to be the trend in relation to the studies of the bilateral deficit presented in the literature. Although we recognize the relevance of the 1RM tests in many contexts, in the light of the routine training situations, the strength work is usually conducted with a greater number of repetitions. In that case, a space containing 8 to 12 repetitions is usually chosen, not only for healthy individuals, but also for those with health conditions^(1,16). We took the hypothesis that, no matter the work done with 1RM, the behavior of the bilateral deficit would be different for exercises involving many repetitions, which can influence in the results obtained in routine training situations. Such fact can bring important implications, once the prescription of strength training is based on work involving many repetitions. Thus, the present work has for its objectives: a) to compare the obtained load in 10 maximum repetitions (10RM) in the different body sides in arms and legs exercises; b) to compare the sum of the unilateral actions with the results obtained bilaterally in arms and legs exercises.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty women with age variation between 18 and 30 years (24 ± 6) participated in that study, body mass between 50 and 65 kg (58.4 ± 6.5) and height between 150 and 175 cm (165.2 ± 5.3). As an inclusion in the study criteria, all the volunteers were physically active, exercising at least three times a week in the last year. Before the data collection, all of them answered negatively to the PAR-Q⁽¹⁷⁾ questionnaire and signed a post- informed consent term, according to the National Health Committee resolution (196/96). The study was approved by the ethics committee from the institution.

The data collection was conducted in three visits. In the first, body mass and height was checked. In the second and third visits, the tests of 10 maximum repetitions (10RM) were conducted, following the procedures of Baechle and Earle (2000), in the uni and bilateral ways in the selected exercises. With the aim to reduce the error spam in the 10RM test, the following strategies were adopted: a) Standardized instructions were offered before the test, so that the individual would be aware of the whole routine that involved the data collection; b) the individual was instructed about the exercise execution technique, doing it some times even without load, to reduce an effect on the learning of the obtained scores; the evaluator was paying attention to the adopted position by the individual at the time of the measurement. Slight variations in the positioning of the articulations involved in the movement could trigger other muscles, leading to misinterpretations of the obtained scores.

To establish the maximum load to 10RM, the extension chair and cross over equipments were used, both from the brand Technogym^®. The load implementation followed the overload from the equipment in the form of plaques. If necessary, shaped weights of 1, 2 or 3 kg were added. The equipments were adjusted according to the size of segments of the individuals. The description of the exercises is presented later on. The bilateral execution description was chosen, because the difference between the distinct ways of conduction has to do with the use of one or both body segments.

Knee extension in the bilateral way on the chair: a) Initial position: sitting individual, with arms along the body holding the equipment handle, with chest inclination to 70º and bent knee to 90º, with head positioned on the Frankfurt level b) Development: from the initial position, complete leg extension was done. After the end of the extension, the legs went back to the initial position.

Bilateral elbow bent; a) Initial position: standing individual, parallel legs with a small lateral space, with stretched knees, hips in the anatomic position, arms along the body with fisted hands holding the bar and head positioned on the Frankfurt level. The positioning of the hands on the bar for each individual was standardized from the space between them; b) Development: From the initial position in the cross over, the individual did the complete bend of the elbows. After the end of the bending, the elbows returned to the initial position.

For the conduction of the 10RM tests the volunteers were divided into two groups of 10, randomly chosen. Group one did the exercises in the following sequence: right arm, left arm and both arms. After an interval of 48 hours the sequence was continued with the exercises for right leg, left leg and both legs. The second group did the following sequence: both arms, left arm and right arm. After an interval of 48 hours tests were conducted in both legs, left leg and right leg. In the 48 hours that preceded the tests, the volunteers were instructed not to do exercises.

To each try to establish the load to 10RM at least five minutes of interval was given. It is important to mention that such interval respected the fatigue and recovering of each volunteer. After obtaining the maximum load to 10RM in each way of execution, an interval of 30 minutes was given to the resuming of the tests.

The statistics analysis was done by the paired t-student test, with the aim to verify the existence of significant difference among the individuals, likewise in the sum of the two limbs separately, in relation to the work done bilaterally. A significance of 5% was considered to all procedures.

RESULTS

Table 1 presents the descriptive statistics in the comparison of load to 10RM in the left and right knee extension exercise. As can be seen, no statistics differences were shown to the manipulated loads in the two segments (p = 0.44). In the elbow bend exercise, no significant differences were observed to the maximum repetitions in the evaluated sides (p = 0.13).

In table 2 data related to the comparison of the sum involving the load obtained in the unilateral movements with those resulting from the bilateral work in the knee extension are presented (p = 0.0007). Finally, the data referring to the comparison of the sum of the loads obtained in the unilateral movements in the elbow bend with the loads bilaterally developed are illustrated (p = 0.0001).

DISCUSSION

Strength production can be obtained through uni and bilateral movements. When the sum of the strength developed by each limb isolatedly is greater than the one obtained bilaterally, we find the bilateral deficit. There is no consensus in the literature concerning the bilateral deficit phenomenum^(8-12,15). Various aspects can influence in the studies differences. Among them we can mention the different degree of training of the subjects and the distinct muscular groups evaluated.

Vandervoort et al.⁽¹⁰⁾ studied the bilateral deficit in the horizontal supino exercise in three different situations, involving isometric work and work in high and low speeds, developed in isocinectic equipment. The bilateral performance was lower than in the unilateral in high speeds. However, in low speeds, likewise in isometric work, the differences were not significant in the different ways of execution. Such fact shows that movement speed and the distinct worked angles can also influence differently in the bilateral deficit. It is important to highlight that the bilateral deficit was measured through the torque peak, making it impossible to exceed to the work involving many repetitions.

Simão et al.⁽¹¹⁾ studied the bilateral deficit in the maximum muscular power and in the maximum load in a 1RM test in elbow bend. The comparison between left and right arms did not present significant difference about the 1RM data (p = 0.20). However, the comparison between the sum of the maximum loads of the limbs and the results obtained with the maximum loads bilaterally developed, a significant difference in the 1RM test was seen (p = 0.018). Besides that, the comparison between the sum of the limbs and the bilateral work in the maximum load in 1RM, was significant. In 54,2% of the individuals, the sum of the maximum loads in the limbs was higher than the maximum loads obtained in the works done bilaterally. About the loads obtained in the maximum muscular power, no significant differences were verified between the limbs, likewise between the unilateral sum and the bilateral work. Such data showed that in the work with higher speeds bilateral deficit does not occur, clashing with the study of Vandervoort et al.⁽¹⁰⁾.

Concerning the work involving lower limbs, Vandervoort et al.⁽⁹⁾ verified bilateral deficit in different angle speeds in exercise done in extension chair. In another study carried out by Simão et al.⁽¹²⁾, 32 experienced women took the 1RM test in the legs extension in equipment with dynamic resistance with no variation. Comparing the maximum load in the uni and bilateral leg extension, no significant difference between the measures of the left and right legs was verified (p = 0.50). On the other hand, in the unilateral sum compared to the bilateral work, significant differences were found (p = 0.02). The result of the unilateral sum was 5% higher than the one obtained bilaterally. Such data corroborate the ones verified by Vandervoort et al.⁽⁹⁾.

More recently, Chaves et al.⁽¹⁵⁾, compared the maximum load in the 1RM test in the knee bend and extension, in the elbow bend alone, likewise in the sum of these two results with the simultaneous development by two legs and two arms, respectively. The results to the left and right knee bend and extension movements and left and right elbow bend were similar and strongly associated (r = 0.96, 0.96 and 0.98). Comparing the sum of the unilateral figures to the ones of the bilateral execution, the maximum load presented a significant difference to the knee extension and elbow bend movements, what did not happen in the leg bend movement. The sum of the unilateral results was 9.8% and 4.0% higher for the knee extension and elbow bend movements, respectively, than the one bilaterally obtained. However, in the knee bend movement, the sum of the unilateral results was lower than the bilateral.

Other studies also demonstrated the presence of bilateral deficit, not only in lower limbs but also in higher limbs work^(19,20). It is important to stress that the studies that investigate the behavior of the bilateral deficit focused their attention on the phenomenon in 1RM tests, or even in few repetitions conducted in isocinectic equipment for measurement of torque peak. However, in a routine training situation, a range of 8 to 12 repetitions is conducted⁽¹⁾. Thus, the data obtained in high intensity and short time tests, demand energetic systems and neuromuscular recruiting levels different from those verified in works with many repetitions.

In the present study involving 10RM, bilateral deficit was not verified because the obtained loads in the carried work by the two segments together were higher than the sum of the unilateral work. Literature mentions the bilateral deficit phenomenon as a result of various physiological aspects. Among them, one of the most important tells about the decrease of the neural activation in the recruiting of motor units for bilateral movements, compared to the sum of unilateral works⁽²¹⁾. In addition, factors as impulse diffusion between the brain hemispheres, postural stabilization, motor learning, reduction of antagonist activity, motivation and kind of muscular fiber involved, can also interfere in the phenomenon^(22-25).

Independently of the aspects that may explain the phenomenon studied here, it is important to stress that the duration of the maximum effort seems to be a crucial aspect in bilateral deficit. As already shown, in experiments where few repetitions were done (1RM tests or tests with few maximum repetitions for measurement of torque peak), the bilateral deficit was clear. When 10RM are performed, the approximate effort time varies between 30 to 40 s. Although we admit that this time range may differ in the distinct exercises, or even to the fact that they are done in machines or loose weight, such duration demands a recruiting of fibers differentiated from the one observed in few repetitions. In this study, the volunteers reported high fadigue in 10RM. Such fact is crucial to the analysis of the found results in this study and the others presented in literature^{(9-12,15,19,20)}. The most part of experiments that have been conducted involved protocols of short duration to the need. In those protocols, the degree of fadigue tends to be smaller, due to the predominance of the ATP-PC system, while in the 10RM tests the acidose is higher.

Recently, McCurdy et al.⁽²⁶⁾ investigated the effect of eight weeks training in the crouching exercise, being the sample divided in two groups. The first did unilateral training, while the second, bilateral. The training was conducted four times a week and both groups took power and strength works (pliometry), each one taken two times a week. Initially the volunteers did three series of 15 repetitions to 50% of 1RM, increasing until they reached six series of five repetitions to 87% of 1RM. The authors have come to the conclusion that, not only in the group that worked unilaterally, but also in the one that worked bilaterally, similar gains of strength and power were observed. In this study, when a greater number of repetitions in the strength tests occurred, the existence of bilateral deficit was not observed, which seems to corroborate in the training chronic effect⁽²⁶⁾.

In conclusion, there was no difference in the load for 10RM between the two body sides in the selected exercises, differently from the bilateral work in relation to the sum of both limbs. At least in the studied exercises, the bilateral practice promotes a greater load mobility than the one observed in the unilateral sum. Although the conclusion of this experiment relies on recent literature⁽²⁶⁾, future studies should be carried to better understand the bilateral deficit phenomenon in routine training strength situations.

REFERENCES

Received in 5/4/05. Final version received in 1/9/05. Approved in 14/11/05.

All the authors declared there is not any potential conflict of interests regarding this article.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  11 June 2007
• Date of issue
  June 2006

History

• Accepted
  14 Nov 2005
• Reviewed
  01 Sept 2005
• Received
  05 Apr 2005