Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Determining the Effect of Shoulder Flexion Angle on Latissimus Dorsi and Forearm Flexor Hypertrophy
Sponsor: University of British Columbia
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the effect of training a muscle at a longer or shorter muscle length during resistance exercise in young and healthy adults. Participants will undergo two types of resistance training conditions that are randomly assigned to the left and right arm. The LATPULLDOWN (LPD) condition refers to performing an exercise that places the latissimus dorsi muscle at a long muscle length when the shoulder is elevated to 180° of shoulder flexion. The LATROW (LR) condition refers to performing an exercise that places the latissimus dorsi muscle at a shorter muscle length when the shoulder is elevated to 90° of shoulder flexion. The main questions the trial aims to answer are: 1. Does resistance training the latissimus dorsi muscle at a long muscle length result in greater muscle growth than training at a shorter muscle length? 2. Does resistance training the latissmus dorsi muscle at long or short muscle lengths result in regional muscle growth differences of the latissimus dorsi? We hypothesize that: 1. LAT PULLDOWN will induce greater hypertrophy compared to LAT ROW condition 2. LAT PULLDOWN will result in greater increases in 1RM compared to LATROW condition 3. LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW will result in angle specific differences in Isokinetic strength 4. LAT PULLDOWN will result in greater inferior Latissimus Dorsi hypertrophy 5. LAT ROW will result in greater superior Latissimus Dorsi hypertrophy The investigators will compare the change in muscle volume and muscular strength between the LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW training conditions, which each participant will have the left and right arm randomly assigned to either exclusively LAT PULLDOWN or LAT ROW conditions. Participants will: * Resistance train the left and right arm with two separate conditions; LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW for 12 weeks, with the first and last weeks dedicated to only strength testing (Isotonic and Isokinetic) and measuring muscle volume via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) * Visit the gym for resistance training 2 times per week * Visit the UBC MRI Research Facility in weeks 1 and 12 for MRI of muscle volume
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
19 Years - 30 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
20
Start Date
2026-01-15
Completion Date
2026-07-01
Last Updated
2026-01-22
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW training sessions
One arm will be randomly assigned to perform LAT PULLDOWN and the contralateral arm will be randomly assigned to perform LAT ROW on a cable machine. Each exercise will include 1 warm up set at 50% 1RM followed by 4-5 sets of 8-12 repetitions per limb. 2 minutes of rest between sets on the ipsilateral limb with 30s between the contralateral limb. The left and right limbs will alternate each session in which one starts each exercise, resulting in 10 training sessions each where the left and right limbs starts first on each exercise. All sets will be performed to momentary failure. A Dynamic Double Progression will be employed to ensure intensity is maintained throughout the intervention.
Maximal isotonic strength testing (1RM)
Each limb will perform a 1RM strength test of the Lat Pulldown and Lat Row on the cable machine respectively. Testing will occur in weeks 1 and 12 of the study with the non-dominant arm tested before the dominant arm. Participants self-selects first warm up set with a weight that is performed between 6-10 repetitions on both limbs. Rest for 1 minute between limbs and subsequent set. A weight is then selected by research staff to perform 3 repetitions with based on previous set. Load is now increased until 1RM is achieved. 3 minutes of rest will be taken between 1RM attempts, with 1RM being complete within 3-5 attempts. Participant will rest 3 minutes before starting testing on the other exercise. The 1RM protocol is repeated for the second exercise. Initial strength testing results and progression from the 10 week training intervention will help to inform testing weights for the post strength testing session. Post strength testing will follow the same protocol as pre strength testing.
Isokinetic strength testing (1080 Quantum)
Participants will engage in isokinetic strength testing on the 1080 Quantum Syncro machine in weeks 1 and 12 for both movements: Shoulder extension from 180° and shoulder extension from 90°. Participants will perform each movement unilaterally. Participants will start with the non-dominant arm. Each movement will be tested through A maximal active range of motion. Participants will complete 10 sub-maximal repetitions to allow familiarization each movement. After a 2-minute rest, participants will complete 4 maximal concentric and eccentric repetitions with 3 minutes rest at 30°/second for 3 sets. The protocol is then repeated on the dominant limb.