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Int J Sports Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2517-0509
Training & Testing

Distinct muscle growth and strength adaptations after preacher and incline biceps curls

Witalo Kassiano 
1   Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN37894)
,
Bruna Costa 
2   Paraná State University, Paranavaí, Paraná, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN495605)
3   Northern Paraná State University, Jacarezinho, Paraná, Brazil
,
Gabriel Kunevaliki
1   Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN37894)
,
Felipe Lisboa
1   Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN37894)
,
Natã Stavinski
1   Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN37894)
,
Aline Prado
1   Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN37894)
,
Ian Tricoli
1   Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN37894)
,
Jarlisson Francsuel
1   Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN37894)
3   Northern Paraná State University, Jacarezinho, Paraná, Brazil
,
Luis Lima
1   Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN37894)
,
JoãoPedro Nunes 
1   Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN37894)
4   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia (Ringgold ID: RIN37894)
,
Alex Silva Ribeiro
5   University of Coimbra, FCDEF, Coimbra, Portugal (Ringgold ID: RIN176852)
,
Edilson S. Cyrino 
1   Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil (Ringgold ID: RIN37894)
› Author AffiliationsThis research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commer-cial, or not-for-profit sectors.
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Abstract

We compared performing preacher and incline biceps curls on changes in elbow flexor muscle size and strength. This was a between-group repeated measure randomized trial. Sixty-three young women performed the preacher biceps curl (n=30) or the incline biceps curl (n=33) for 8 weeks, twice a week. We measured the muscle thickness of elbow flexors at the proximal, middle, and distal sites. We assessed the muscle strength using three repetition maximum tests in the preacher curl and the incline curl. We observed a greater increase in the proximal elbow flexor thickness in the incline biceps curl compared to the preacher biceps curl (mean difference=0.08 cm [95% confidence interval: 0.02, 0.13 cm]). We observed a greater increase in the distal elbow flexor thickness in the preacher biceps curl compared to the incline biceps curl (mean difference=0.10 cm [95%CI: 0.04, 0.15 cm]). The preacher biceps curl showed a greater increase in three repetition maximum tests in the preacher curl (mean difference=1.88 kg [95%CI: 1.14, 2.62 kg]). The incline biceps curl showed a greater increase in three repetition maximum tests in the incline biceps curl (mean difference=0.86 kg [95%CI: 0.10, 1.62 kg]). Our findings suggest regional differences in muscle growth induced by the preacher and incline biceps curls. Strength gains appear to follow the principle of specificity.

Keywords

exercise selection - muscle growth - resistance training - biceps brachii

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 27 August 2024

Accepted after revision: 14 January 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
14 January 2025

Article published online:
20 February 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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