This parameter is often brought up when trying to get the best hypertrophic response possible. What is it? Muscular failure can be defined as the point reached when at the end of a set, with a given load, one can no longer produce the force necessary to continue the correct and complete execution of the movement.
IN theory
There are several theories that support this principle and are frequently put forward to argue for it and to support the optimisation of the hypertrophic response.
The main one is that with the accumulation of fatigue, the number of motor units (i. e. muscle fibres) activated progressively increases, resulting in greater stimulation. On the other hand, with the high demand on the anaerobic glycolysis pathway, the conditions are required to increase metabolic stress and thus stimulate hormonal responses.
A 2005 study published in the Journal of Strenght and Conditioning Research found that 10RM sets performed to muscle failure resulted in a significantly greater post-exercise rise in GH levels than the same load performed without muscle failure.
Nevertheless, the debate remains open as to the efficacy of this
strategy because if it is not used properly, in other words if it is not
planned, it inevitably leads to overtraining and its harmful effects on
hypertrophy. After a few weeks, IGF-1 concentrations at rest decrease as
well as testosterone levels (2). It has also been observed, as confirmed
by recent studies (3), that a psychological collapse or "burnout" occurs
which is very detrimental to the quality of training as well as to any
progress.
It therefore seems reasonable to plan well for the effects of the drug
on the body. It therefore seems reasonable to foresee the periods during
which this strategy will be used and obviously to prepare them well
during the previous cycles and above all to know what to continue with
if one wants to get the quintessence of it.
