Biology of Sport
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ISSN: 0860-021X
Biology of Sport
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abstract:
Original paper

Effects of different full squat training volumes matched for fatigue on strength gains, neuromuscular adaptations, and muscle hypertrophy

José Antonio Páez-Maldonado
1, 2
,
Clara Cano-Castillo
2
,
Pedro Jesús Cornejo-Daza
2, 3, 4
,
Juan Sánchez-Valdepeñas
2, 5
,
Luis Rodiles-Guerrero
2, 4
,
Mathias Wernbom
6
,
Manuel Ortega Becerra
2, 3
,
Fernando Pareja-Blanco
2, 3

  1. University of Osuna (Centre attached to the University of Seville), Osuna, Spain
  2. Science-Based Training Research Group, Physical Performance and Sports Research Center (CIRFD), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
  3. Faculty of Sports Sciences, Department of Sports and Computer Sciences, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
  4. Department of Human Movement and Sport Performance, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
  5. Physical Education and Sports Department, Cardenal Spínola CEU Andalucía University, Bormujos, Sevilla, Spain
  6. Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Biol Sport. 2026;43:985–997
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.157999
Online publish date: 2026/03/09
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To investigate the effects of three full squat (SQ) training volumes, matched for fatigue, on jump performance, muscle strength, neuromuscular adaptations, and muscle hypertrophy. Thirty-six resistance-trained men were randomized into three groups: low (LOW), moderate (MOD), and high (HIG) volume. All groups trained SQ twice a week, with relative intensities increasing from 70% to 85% 1RM over the 8-week training period. The total volume accumulated was 48, 144, and 312 repetitions for LOW, MOD, and HIG, respectively, during the 16 training sessions. To isolate the effect of training volume by minimizing fatigue accumulation across repetitions, short rest periods were inserted between repetitions. The following tests were performed: 1) cross-sectional area (CSA) of vastus lateralis; 2) countermovement jump (CMJ); 3) maximal isometric SQ contraction; 4) progressive loading SQ test; and 5) fatigue SQ test. MOD achieved the greatest gains in the progressive loading SQ test (“group-by-time” interaction: p = 0.02, effect sizes (ES): 0.87, 2.52, and 1.12, for LOW, MOD, and HIG, respectively). HIG showed the greatest increases in the electromyography amplitude during this test (“group-by-time” interaction: p = 0.03, ES: -0.13, 0.52, and 0.88, for LOW, MOD, and HIG). All groups showed significant increases in CSA, without significant differences between them (“group-by-time” interaction: p = 0.34, ES: 0.52, 0.41, and 0.56, for LOW, MOD, and HIG). Short inter-repetition rest periods enabled all training volumes to induce significant hypertrophy, while moderate volumes optimized strength gains and high volumes maximized neuromuscular activation, highlighting volume-specific adaptations in SQ training.
keywords:

Cross-sectional area, Dose-response, Electromyography, Fatigue management, Velocity-based training, Velocity loss

  
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