What's the Best Way to Use Eccentric Loading for Strength?
Recent strength training research challenges the popular belief that accentuated eccentric loading enhances performance in subsequent repetitions.
Experts
Content featuring leading researchers and evidence translators.
Abdolrahman Najafi
Adrian Burden
Does Muscle Length Matter More Than Load for Hypertrophy?
Two new studies challenge the assumption that heavier loads always produce better muscle adaptations. The real variable worth tracking may be where in the range of motion you're actually training.
Does Range of Motion Matter for Hypertrophy?
A 2026 study found that training at long muscle lengths with moderate loads and partial range of motion produced hypertrophy equal to full ROM training at high intensity. Here's what that means for how you structure your sessions.
Alexander D Young
What Does This Week's Strength Training Research Show?
Two new studies in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research show that how you prescribe load and which exercise you choose both shape your results. Here's what lifters can take from them.
Is RPE-Based Deadlift Training as Effective as Percentages?
A 2026 randomized trial compared RPE-based and percentage-based deadlift programs. Strength gains were similar, but the RPE group reported less fatigue going into each session.
Alysha C D'Souza
What Does This Week's Strength Training Research Tell Us?
New research shows that consistent training trumps menstrual cycle timing, while motor variability may predict who responds best to strength programs.
What's the Best Time to Train for Muscle Hypertrophy?
A 2024 study reveals that timing training around menstrual cycles offers no advantage for muscle growth or strength gains compared to consistent programming.
Anmol Bhinder
What Does This Week's Strength Training Research Tell Us?
New research shows that consistent training trumps menstrual cycle timing, while motor variability may predict who responds best to strength programs.
What's the Best Time to Train for Muscle Hypertrophy?
A 2024 study reveals that timing training around menstrual cycles offers no advantage for muscle growth or strength gains compared to consistent programming.
Ashwyn Asthana
What Does This Week's Strength Training Research Show?
Two new studies in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research show that how you prescribe load and which exercise you choose both shape your results. Here's what lifters can take from them.
Is RPE-Based Deadlift Training as Effective as Percentages?
A 2026 randomized trial compared RPE-based and percentage-based deadlift programs. Strength gains were similar, but the RPE group reported less fatigue going into each session.
Bjørk W Helge
What Does This Week's Strength Research Tell Lifters?
This week's research looks at resistance training for cyclists and split-set training in handball players — and together they make a clear case for programming intensity with precision, not just effort.
Split Sets vs. Failure Training: Which Builds More Power?
A 2026 study on youth handball players found split-set training outperformed failure training on one power metric — but not on strength, muscle size, or athletic performance. Here's what that means for how you program your sets.
Carmen Serrano-Cañadillas
Carolina Teodósio
Does Muscle Length Matter More Than Load for Hypertrophy?
Two new studies challenge the assumption that heavier loads always produce better muscle adaptations. The real variable worth tracking may be where in the range of motion you're actually training.
Does Blood Flow Restriction Training Build Muscle as Well as Heavy Lifting?
A 2026 controlled trial found that high-load resistance training outperforms blood flow restriction for lateral gastrocnemius hypertrophy, while both methods produce similar results in the soleus. The difference comes down to muscle fiber type.
Christopher Morse
Does Muscle Length Matter More Than Load for Hypertrophy?
Two new studies challenge the assumption that heavier loads always produce better muscle adaptations. The real variable worth tracking may be where in the range of motion you're actually training.
Does Range of Motion Matter for Hypertrophy?
A 2026 study found that training at long muscle lengths with moderate loads and partial range of motion produced hypertrophy equal to full ROM training at high intensity. Here's what that means for how you structure your sessions.
Dahan da Cunha Nascimento
Deivid G Silva
Does Progressive Overload Really Matter for Hypertrophy?
A new within-subject trial shows both fixed and progressed loads built muscle for two months. The difference appeared in the final weeks, as the fixed load drifted further from failure.
Can You Double Your Training Volume Without Hurting Hypertrophy?
A 2026 study found that doubling your weekly resistance training volume doesn't impair muscle growth compared to modest increases — but the details matter for how you apply this.
Derrick W Van Every
What Does This Week's Strength Training Research Tell Us?
New research shows that consistent training trumps menstrual cycle timing, while motor variability may predict who responds best to strength programs.
What's the Best Time to Train for Muscle Hypertrophy?
A 2024 study reveals that timing training around menstrual cycles offers no advantage for muscle growth or strength gains compared to consistent programming.
Diego Bittencourt
Does Progressive Overload Really Matter for Hypertrophy?
A new within-subject trial shows both fixed and progressed loads built muscle for two months. The difference appeared in the final weeks, as the fixed load drifted further from failure.
What Does This Week's Strength Research Tell Us?
Three new studies published in 2026 converge on a single, practical insight: volume and proximity to failure both matter — but context determines how much, and for whom.
Can You Double Your Training Volume Without Hurting Hypertrophy?
A 2026 study found that doubling your weekly resistance training volume doesn't impair muscle growth compared to modest increases — but the details matter for how you apply this.
Frontiers in Physiology
Gabriella Munteanu
What Does This Week's Strength Research Tell Us?
Three new studies published in 2026 converge on a single, practical insight: volume and proximity to failure both matter — but context determines how much, and for whom.
How Close to Failure Should You Train for Best Results?
A 2026 randomised crossover study found that training closer to failure increases neuromuscular and metabolic fatigue — but the right stopping point depends on your exercise and load, not a single universal rule.
Gerard McMahon
Does Muscle Length Matter More Than Load for Hypertrophy?
Two new studies challenge the assumption that heavier loads always produce better muscle adaptations. The real variable worth tracking may be where in the range of motion you're actually training.
Does Range of Motion Matter for Hypertrophy?
A 2026 study found that training at long muscle lengths with moderate loads and partial range of motion produced hypertrophy equal to full ROM training at high intensity. Here's what that means for how you structure your sessions.
Gladys Onambele-Pearson
Does Muscle Length Matter More Than Load for Hypertrophy?
Two new studies challenge the assumption that heavier loads always produce better muscle adaptations. The real variable worth tracking may be where in the range of motion you're actually training.
Does Range of Motion Matter for Hypertrophy?
A 2026 study found that training at long muscle lengths with moderate loads and partial range of motion produced hypertrophy equal to full ROM training at high intensity. Here's what that means for how you structure your sessions.
Grace A C Lamont
What Does This Week's Strength Training Research Tell Us?
New research shows that consistent training trumps menstrual cycle timing, while motor variability may predict who responds best to strength programs.
What's the Best Time to Train for Muscle Hypertrophy?
A 2024 study reveals that timing training around menstrual cycles offers no advantage for muscle growth or strength gains compared to consistent programming.
Jacob J Stephan
What Does This Week's Strength Training Research Show?
Two new studies in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research show that how you prescribe load and which exercise you choose both shape your results. Here's what lifters can take from them.
Is RPE-Based Deadlift Training as Effective as Percentages?
A 2026 randomized trial compared RPE-based and percentage-based deadlift programs. Strength gains were similar, but the RPE group reported less fatigue going into each session.
Joana M Correia
Does Muscle Length Matter More Than Load for Hypertrophy?
Two new studies challenge the assumption that heavier loads always produce better muscle adaptations. The real variable worth tracking may be where in the range of motion you're actually training.
Does Blood Flow Restriction Training Build Muscle as Well as Heavy Lifting?
A 2026 controlled trial found that high-load resistance training outperforms blood flow restriction for lateral gastrocnemius hypertrophy, while both methods produce similar results in the soleus. The difference comes down to muscle fiber type.
João G A Bergamasco
Does Progressive Overload Really Matter for Hypertrophy?
A new within-subject trial shows both fixed and progressed loads built muscle for two months. The difference appeared in the final weeks, as the fixed load drifted further from failure.
Can You Double Your Training Volume Without Hurting Hypertrophy?
A 2026 study found that doubling your weekly resistance training volume doesn't impair muscle growth compared to modest increases — but the details matter for how you apply this.
Juan José González-Badillo
Júlio B B Camargo
Does Progressive Overload Really Matter for Hypertrophy?
A new within-subject trial shows both fixed and progressed loads built muscle for two months. The difference appeared in the final weeks, as the fixed load drifted further from failure.
What Does This Week's Strength Research Tell Us?
Three new studies published in 2026 converge on a single, practical insight: volume and proximity to failure both matter — but context determines how much, and for whom.
Can You Double Your Training Volume Without Hurting Hypertrophy?
A 2026 study found that doubling your weekly resistance training volume doesn't impair muscle growth compared to modest increases — but the details matter for how you apply this.
Karla Helena Coelho Vilaça E Silva
Keith Winwood
Does Muscle Length Matter More Than Load for Hypertrophy?
Two new studies challenge the assumption that heavier loads always produce better muscle adaptations. The real variable worth tracking may be where in the range of motion you're actually training.
Does Range of Motion Matter for Hypertrophy?
A 2026 study found that training at long muscle lengths with moderate loads and partial range of motion produced hypertrophy equal to full ROM training at high intensity. Here's what that means for how you structure your sessions.
Margarida Cidrais
Does Muscle Length Matter More Than Load for Hypertrophy?
Two new studies challenge the assumption that heavier loads always produce better muscle adaptations. The real variable worth tracking may be where in the range of motion you're actually training.
Does Blood Flow Restriction Training Build Muscle as Well as Heavy Lifting?
A 2026 controlled trial found that high-load resistance training outperforms blood flow restriction for lateral gastrocnemius hypertrophy, while both methods produce similar results in the soleus. The difference comes down to muscle fiber type.
Martin Refalo
What Does This Week's Strength Research Tell Us?
Three new studies published in 2026 converge on a single, practical insight: volume and proximity to failure both matter — but context determines how much, and for whom.
How Close to Failure Should You Train for Best Results?
A 2026 randomised crossover study found that training closer to failure increases neuromuscular and metabolic fatigue — but the right stopping point depends on your exercise and load, not a single universal rule.
Nicholas Cowley
What Does This Week's Strength Research Tell Us?
Three new studies published in 2026 converge on a single, practical insight: volume and proximity to failure both matter — but context determines how much, and for whom.
How Close to Failure Should You Train for Best Results?
A 2026 randomised crossover study found that training closer to failure increases neuromuscular and metabolic fatigue — but the right stopping point depends on your exercise and load, not a single universal rule.
Nicholas J Newton
What Does This Week's Strength Training Research Show?
Two new studies in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research show that how you prescribe load and which exercise you choose both shape your results. Here's what lifters can take from them.
Is RPE-Based Deadlift Training as Effective as Percentages?
A 2026 randomized trial compared RPE-based and percentage-based deadlift programs. Strength gains were similar, but the RPE group reported less fatigue going into each session.
Parsa Attarieh
What Does This Week's Strength Training Research Show?
Two new studies in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research show that how you prescribe load and which exercise you choose both shape your results. Here's what lifters can take from them.
Does Glute Hypertrophy Depend on Which Exercise You Pick?
A 10-week MRI study found that hip extension and hip abduction grow different regions of the gluteus maximus. Here's what that means for how you program glute work.
PMC Systematic Review
Ryan Timmins
What Does This Week's Strength Research Tell Us?
Three new studies published in 2026 converge on a single, practical insight: volume and proximity to failure both matter — but context determines how much, and for whom.
How Close to Failure Should You Train for Best Results?
A 2026 randomised crossover study found that training closer to failure increases neuromuscular and metabolic fatigue — but the right stopping point depends on your exercise and load, not a single universal rule.
SangYup Lee
What Does This Week's Strength Training Research Show?
Two new studies in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research show that how you prescribe load and which exercise you choose both shape your results. Here's what lifters can take from them.
Is RPE-Based Deadlift Training as Effective as Percentages?
A 2026 randomized trial compared RPE-based and percentage-based deadlift programs. Strength gains were similar, but the RPE group reported less fatigue going into each session.
Shivani Elango
What Does This Week's Strength Training Research Tell Us?
New research shows that consistent training trumps menstrual cycle timing, while motor variability may predict who responds best to strength programs.
What's the Best Time to Train for Muscle Hypertrophy?
A 2024 study reveals that timing training around menstrual cycles offers no advantage for muscle growth or strength gains compared to consistent programming.
Steffen Held
Can Young Lifters Build Muscle? What the Research Says
A 2026 meta-analysis confirms that young lifters can build muscle at every maturational stage, but the size of the adaptation depends heavily on age, puberty status, and what you're comparing it against.
Is Training to Failure Actually Necessary for Strength?
Two new studies published in 2026 converge on a clear message: training to momentary failure isn't required for comparable adaptations, and learning to gauge your own effort accurately is a skill anyone can develop.
Tobias Buk Jørgensen
What Does This Week's Strength Research Tell Lifters?
This week's research looks at resistance training for cyclists and split-set training in handball players — and together they make a clear case for programming intensity with precision, not just effort.
Split Sets vs. Failure Training: Which Builds More Power?
A 2026 study on youth handball players found split-set training outperformed failure training on one power metric — but not on strength, muscle size, or athletic performance. Here's what that means for how you program your sets.
Vaughan Nicholson
What Does This Week's Strength Research Tell Us?
Three new studies published in 2026 converge on a single, practical insight: volume and proximity to failure both matter — but context determines how much, and for whom.
How Close to Failure Should You Train for Best Results?
A 2026 randomised crossover study found that training closer to failure increases neuromuscular and metabolic fatigue — but the right stopping point depends on your exercise and load, not a single universal rule.