Block vs. weekly undulating periodized resistance training programs in women

Sandro Bartolomei, Jeffrey R. Stout, David H. Fukuda, Jay R. Hoffman, Franco Merni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of resistance training using block periodization (BP) and weekly undulating (WUD) model on maximal strength and hypertrophy in recreationally strength trained women. Seventeen recreationally trained women were randomly assigned to either a BP group (n 9; age 24.7 ± 4.2 years; body mass 62.1 ± 5.3 kg; height 166.4 ± 6.0 cm) or a WUD group (n 8; age 23.2 ± 2.2 years; body mass 59.8 ± 11.9 kg; height 160.1 ± 4.1 cm). Participants of both groups trained 3 days a week for 10 weeks. The BP and WUD programs used the same exercises, and the difference between the 2 programs was in the distribution of the training volume within each training phase. Anthropometric measures and strength testing were performed before (PRE) and after 10 weeks (POST) of training. The results revealed that both BP and WUD groups made significant increases in strength and power, but improvements in lower-body strength were significantly (p 0.039) greater in the WUD group (+27.7%) compared with the BP group (+15.2%). Both groups significantly increased arm muscle hypertrophy (p < 0.001), whereas improvements in thigh muscle size were significant in the WUD group only (+5.8%, p 0.001). Results of this study indicate that the WUD model is more effective than the BP model for increasing maximal strength and muscle size in the lower body in women.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2679-2687
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Volume29
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • female
  • hypertrophy
  • program design
  • strength training

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Block vs. weekly undulating periodized resistance training programs in women'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this