Does Performing Resistance Exercise with a Partial Range of Motion at Long Muscle Lengths Maximize Muscle Hypertrophic Adaptations to Training?

Abstract

Background

Over the past few years, the effects of manipulating range of motion (ROM) on muscle hypertrophy has garnered a considerable amount of attention within the scientific community. When seeking to maximize muscle hypertrophy, it has previously been suggested that individuals should perform a given exercise over the largest possible degrees of movement (i.e., full ROM), however, recent review papers have suggested that performing a partial ROM at long muscle lengths (LML) could potentially promote superior hypertrophy compared to other ROM configurations.

Purpose

We sought to examine the evidence for such suggestions as well as possible physiological mechanisms underpinning such phenomena.

Findings and Conclusion

When assessing the literature, it appears that (1) there are not compelling data to support the suggestion that a partial ROM at LML is superior to full ROM, (2) it may be the case that a partial ROM at LML promotes greater distal hypertrophy when compared to a partial ROM at short muscle lengths (SML) but may promote comparable hypertrophy at more proximal sites, and (3) this phenomena (i.e., partial ROM at LML being the optimal ROM for hypertrophy) may not be generalizable to all muscle groups. Future research should seek to directly compare the different ROM configurations across a variety of exercises for all major muscle groups to understand whether an “optimal ROM for muscle hypertrophy” is dependent on both muscle group and exercise selection.