Date of Award
5-1-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Health and Kinesiology
First Advisor
Jeremy P. Loenneke
Second Advisor
Matthew Jessee
Third Advisor
Alberto Del Arco
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effects of high-load, low-load unilateral isotonic training, and mid-point one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength testing on local muscular endurance, task-specific strength, and non-specific strength of the contralateral untrained arm (i.e., cross-education). Methods: 201 young adult participants were randomly assigned to 1) high-load training (HL, n=45), 2) low-load training (LL, n=48), 3) mid-point 1RM test (MID, n=54), and 4) time-matched non-training control (CON, n=54). HL and LL training groups completed supervised unilateral bicep curl exercise on their dominant arm until task failure over ~6 weeks (3 ×/week). MID group performed a 1RM test 3 weeks after the pre-test, while CON performed only pre-and post-tests. Baseline motor imagery ability and prior training history were measured at pre-test. Bicep curl 1RM strength, isometric elbow flexion and handgrip strength, absolute muscular endurance of non-dominant arm, and discomfort immediately after the local muscular endurance task were evaluated at pre- and post-tests. Results: The most probable hypothesis in the Bayes Factors for Informative Hypotheses supported that HL = LL > MID = CON, for local muscular endurance of the untrained arm (posterior probability of 0.46). The Bayesian regression showed lower bicep 1RM strength changes in HL, LL, and MID, when compared to CON. There was no evidence for the changes in isometric elbow flexion or handgrip strength (posterior probability of null hypothesis = ~0.883 – 0.855). The moderated mediation analysis suggested that 1) the lower strength changes observed in LL in comparisons to CON suppressed the local muscular endurance change, for those who had not previously trained arms; and 2) improvement in local muscular endurance in LL was observed for those with lower and middle level of external visual imagery but not for those with higher level of external visual imagery. Conclusion: High-load and low-load unilateral training induced cross-education of local muscular endurance. None of our interventions induced a cross-education of training-specific or non-specific strength. Baseline external visual imagery may modulate the effect of low-load training on the cross-education of local muscular endurance. The mechanistic role of strength changes in the cross-education of local muscular endurance may vary depending on prior training history.
Recommended Citation
Yamada, Yujiro, "The Effects of High and Low Load Unilateral Elbow Flexion Training and Mid-Period Strength Testing on Muscular Endurance and Specific/Nonspecific Strength in An Untrained Arm" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 8882.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/8882