Does "Time Under Tension" Matter? (page 3)| www.bb-forums.com

I've always thought that it does...probably more than many of us will admit. Here's something interesting I came across:
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J Appl Physiol. 2006 Apr;100(4):1150-7. Epub 2005 Dec 8
Effects of low-intensity resistance exercise with slow movement and tonic force generation on muscular function in young men.Tanimoto M, Ishii N.
Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan. cc37724@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp

We investigated the acute and long-term effects of low-intensity resistance exercise (knee extension) with slow movement and tonic force generation on muscular size and strength. This type of exercise was expected to enhance the intramuscular hypoxic environment that might be a factor for muscular hypertrophy. Twenty-four healthy young men without experience of regular exercise training were assigned into three groups (n = 8 for each) and performed the following resistance exercise regimens: low-intensity [ approximately 50% of one-repetition maximum (1RM)] with slow movement and tonic force generation (3 s for eccentric and concentric actions, 1-s pause, and no relaxing phase; LST); high-intensity ( approximately 80% 1RM) with normal speed (1 s for concentric and eccentric actions, 1 s for relaxing; HN); low-intensity with normal speed (same intensity as for LST and same speed as for HN; LN). In LST and HN, the mean repetition maximum was 8RM. In LN, both intensity and amount of work were matched with those for LST. Each exercise session consisting of three sets was performed three times a week for 12 wk. In LST and HN, exercise training caused significant (P < 0.05) increases in cross-sectional area determined with MRI and isometric strength (maximal voluntary contraction) of the knee extensors, whereas no significant changes were seen in LN. Electromyographic and near-infrared spectroscopic analyses showed that one bout of LST causes sustained muscular activity and the largest muscle deoxygenation among the three types of exercise. The results suggest that intramuscular oxygen environment is important for exercise-induced muscular hypertrophy.

PMID: 16339347 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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What it shows IMO, is that simply focusing on progressively higher poundages will eventually stall progress in everyone except the truely genetic freaks (like Coleman). You need to have TUT focusing on fiber recruitment as part of your training routine; slow motion sets, drop sets, static holds, etc.

I think you nailed it right there DocJ.

I honestly believe there's more to it, but you got it figured.

Just my opinion, but I see TUT as a 5% thing for the new trainee (like someone mentioned about newbs). I see it as more important for the intermediate trainee. I see it as being very important for the advanced trainee. I think that TUT leaves that 5% realm real quickas the progress of the trainee slows and more things become important.

I forgot...the "5%" thing comes from a thread by IronAddict. It has to do with so many people focussing on the "last 5%" of bodybuilding/powerlifting, and not paying attention to the meat and potatos of the whole thing.

Let's see if I can get him in this thread to see what he thinks about it.

I just have my trainees lift fast on the positive and lower at a natural pace on the negative. I have played with TUT with pretty large sample lots of trainees and have come to the conclusion that if you need more TUT, do more sets.

IA

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Couldn't have said it better.

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Couldn't have said it better.

yep... also add 20 rep squats to that