Fadi
...
Some would argue that ascending sets, whilst very effective for building size, they also have the additional bonus of safe guarding one from possible joint injury due to their gradual increase of the weight being lifted.
On the flip side, you have the proponents of descending sets saying that going down the rack is better because it allows for maximum weight being lifted when you are fresh and at your strongest point.
I say why not use both of these principles and use them to your maximum advantage; caring for your joints, whilst simultaneously applying maximum overload to your muscles (instead of your joints). This can be achieved by first utilising the ascending principle, followed directly by the descending one. Done this way, you’d get to your top set, not only fully warmed up in both muscle and joint, but your top conducive last few reps won’t need to be as heavy (in kilograms) had you simply chosen to go straight out and begin with your heaviest weight (as is typical of a straight out descending set).
Take home message: muscle fiber overload is not solely dependent on the sheer weight being lifted. People who disagree with that statement, are basically saying that the only way to overload a muscle is to increase the weight being lifted…., and we both know that this is simply not true, has never been, and will never be.
All the best with your training.
Fadi.
On the flip side, you have the proponents of descending sets saying that going down the rack is better because it allows for maximum weight being lifted when you are fresh and at your strongest point.
I say why not use both of these principles and use them to your maximum advantage; caring for your joints, whilst simultaneously applying maximum overload to your muscles (instead of your joints). This can be achieved by first utilising the ascending principle, followed directly by the descending one. Done this way, you’d get to your top set, not only fully warmed up in both muscle and joint, but your top conducive last few reps won’t need to be as heavy (in kilograms) had you simply chosen to go straight out and begin with your heaviest weight (as is typical of a straight out descending set).
Take home message: muscle fiber overload is not solely dependent on the sheer weight being lifted. People who disagree with that statement, are basically saying that the only way to overload a muscle is to increase the weight being lifted…., and we both know that this is simply not true, has never been, and will never be.
All the best with your training.
Fadi.
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