Jim Stoppani, PhD
Power training can lead to an increase in muscle growth. In a recent study, Brazilian researchers placed athletes on a 10-week weight-training program that consisted of doing either power training (3 sets of 8 reps using 40% of their 1RM, and reps done as fast and explosively as possible) or more traditional weight lifting (3 sets of 8 reps using 60% of their 1RM with reps done at a normal and controlled pace). They reported that the group following the power-training program increased muscle mass significantly more than the group doing the traditional lifting. This is likely due to the fact that power training involves more of the fast-twitch muscle fibers. These muscle fibers are the strongest and most powerful, as well as the biggest.
Jim Stoppani, PhD
