Distinct muscle growth and strength adaptations after preacher and incline biceps curls

Abstract

We compared performing preacher and incline biceps curls on changes in elbow flexor muscle size and strength. This was a between-group repeated measure randomized trial. Sixty-three young women performed the preacher biceps curl (n=30) or the incline biceps curl (n=33) for 8 weeks, twice a week. We measured the muscle thickness of elbow flexors at the proximal, middle, and distal sites. We assessed the muscle strength using three repetition maximum tests in the preacher curl and the incline curl. We observed a greater increase in the proximal elbow flexor thickness in the incline biceps curl compared to the preacher biceps curl (mean difference=0.08 cm [95% confidence interval: 0.02, 0.13 cm]). We observed a greater increase in the distal elbow flexor thickness in the preacher biceps curl compared to the incline biceps curl (mean difference=0.10 cm [95%CI: 0.04, 0.15 cm]). The preacher biceps curl showed a greater increase in three repetition maximum tests in the preacher curl (mean difference=1.88 kg [95%CI: 1.14, 2.62 kg]). The incline biceps curl showed a greater increase in three repetition maximum tests in the incline biceps curl (mean difference=0.86 kg [95%CI: 0.10, 1.62 kg]). Our findings suggest regional differences in muscle growth induced by the preacher and incline biceps curls. Strength gains appear to follow the principle of specificity.

Keywords

exercise selection - muscle growth - resistance training - biceps brachii

Publication History

Received: 27 August 2024

Accepted after revision: 14 January 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
14 January 2025

Article published online:
20 February 2025

• References

• 1 Currier BS, McLeod JC, Banfield L. et al. Resistance training prescription for muscle strength and hypertrophy in healthy adults: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med 2023; 57: 1211-1220
• 2 Kassiano W, Nunes JP, Costa B. et al. Does varying resistance exercises promote superior muscle hypertrophy and strength gains? a systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 2022; 36: 1753-1762
• 3 ACSM, American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 687-708
• 4 Maeo S, Meng H, Yuhang W. et al. Greater hamstrings muscle hypertrophy but similar damage protection after training at long versus short muscle lengths. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2020; 53: 825-837
• 5 Kinoshita M, Maeo S, Kobayashi Y. et al. Triceps surae muscle hypertrophy is greater after standing versus seated calf-raise training. Front Physiol 2023; 13: 1272106
• 6 Maeo S, Wu Y, Huang M. et al. Triceps brachii hypertrophy is substantially greater after elbow extension training performed in the overhead versus neutral arm position. Eur J Sport Sci 2023; 23: 1240-1250
• 7 Stasinaki A-N, Zaras N, Methenitis S. et al. Triceps brachii muscle strength and architectural adaptations with resistance training exercises at short or long fascicle length. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2018; 3: 28
• 8 Zabaleta-Korta A, Fernández-Peña E, Torres-Unda J. et al. Regional hypertrophy: the effect of exercises at long and short muscle lengths in recreationally trained women. J Hum Kinet 2023; 87: 259-270
• 9 Costa BDV, Kassiano W, Nunes JP. et al. Does performing different resistance exercises for the same muscle group induce non-homogeneous hypertrophy?. Int J Sports Med 2021; 42: 803-811
• 10 Barakat C, Barroso R, Alvarez M. et al. The effects of varying glenohumeral joint angle on acute volume load, muscle activation, swelling, and echo-intensity on the biceps brachii in resistance-trained individuals. Sports (Basel) 2019; 7: E204
• 11 Drummond MD, Szmuchrowski LA, Goulart KN, Couto B.P. Effect of strength training on regional hypertrophy of the elbow flexor muscles. Muscle Nerve 2016; 54: 750-755
• 12 Pedrosa GF, Simões MG, Figueiredo MOC. et al. Training in the initial range of motion promotes greater muscle adaptations than at final in the arm curl. Sports 2023; 11: 39
• 13 Sato S, Yoshida R, Ryosuke K. et al. Elbow joint angles in elbow flexor unilateral resistance exercise training determine its effects on muscle strength and thickness of trained and non-trained arms. Front Physiol 2021; 16: 734509
• 14 Harriss DJ, Jones C, MacSween A. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2022 update. Int J Sports Med 2022; 43: 1065-1070
• 15 Kassiano W, Costa B, Kunevaliki G. et al Muscle hypertrophy and strength adaptations to systematically varying resistance exercises. Res Q Exerc Sport Epub ahead of print 2024; 1-11
• 16 Fonseca RM, Roschel H, Tricoli V. et al. Changes in exercises are more effective than in loading schemes to improve muscle strength. J Strength Cond Res 2014; 28: 3085-3092
• 17 Vickers AJ. The use of percentage change from baseline as an outcome in a controlled trial is statistically inefficient: a simulation study. BMC Med Res Methodol 2001; 1: 6
• 18 Vickers AJ, Altman DG. Statistics notes: analysing controlled trials with baseline and follow up measurements. BMJ 2001; 323: 1123-1124
• 19 Van Breukelen GJ. ANCOVA versus change from baseline: more power in randomized studies, more bias in nonrandomized studies [corrected]. J Clin Epidemiol 2006; 59: 920-925
• 20 Nunes EV, Pavlicova M, Hu MC. et al. Baseline matters: the importance of covariation for baseline severity in the analysis of clinical trials. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2011; 37: 446-452
• 21 Thoirs K, English C. Ultrasound measures of muscle thickness: intra-examiner reliability and influence of body position. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2009; 29: 440-446
• 22 Gardner MJ, Altman DG. Confidence intervals rather than P values: estimation rather than hypothesis testing. Br Med J 1986; 292: 746-750
• 23 Cohen J. A power primer. Psychol Bull 1992; 112: 155-159
• 24 Ahtiainen JP, Pakarinen A, Alen M, Kraemer W.J., Häkkinen K. Muscle hypertrophy, hormonal adaptations and strength development during strength training in strength-trained and untrained men. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 89: 555-563
• 25 Blemker SS, Pinsky PM, Delp SL. A 3D model of muscle reveals the causes of nonuniform strains in the biceps brachii. J Biomech 2005; 38: 657-665
• 26 Pappas GP, Asakawa DS, Delp SL. et al Nonuniform shortening in the biceps brachii during elbow flexion. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2002; 92: 2381-2389 DOI:
• 27 Folland J, Morris B. Variable-cam resistance training machines: do they match the angle - torque relationship in humans?. J Sports Sci 2008; 26: 163-169
• 28 McMaster DT, Cronin J, McGuigan M. Forms of variable resistance training. Strength Cond J 2009; 31: 52-63
• 29 Nunes JP, Jacinto JL, Ribeiro AS. et al. Placing greater torque at shorter or longer muscle lengths? Effects of cable vs. barbell preacher curl training on muscular Strength and hypertrophy in young adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17: 5859
• 30 Tiwana MS, Sinkler MA, Bordoni B. Anatomy, shoulder and upper limb, triceps muscle. StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing LLC.; 2024
• 31 Fitzsimmons PA, Landers DM, Thomas JR, van der Mars H. Does self-efficacy predict performance in experienced weightlifters. Res Q Exerc Sport 1991; 62: 424-431
• 32 Wells CM, Collins D, Hale BD. The self-efficacy-performance link in maximum strength performance. J Sports Sci 1993; 11: 167-175
• 33 Murray WM, Delp SL, Buchanan TS. Variation of muscle moment arms with elbow and forearm position. J Biomech 1995; 28: 513-525
• 34 Counts BR, Buckner SL, Mouser JG. et al. Muscle growth: to infinity and beyond. Muscle Nerve 2017; 56: 1022-1030
• 35 Lopez P, Radaelli R, Taaffe DR. et al. Resistance training load effects on muscle hypertrophy and strength gain: systematic review and network meta-analysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2021; 53: 1206-1216
• 36 Moher D, Hopewell S, Schulz KF. et al. CONSORT 2010 explanation and elaboration: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. BMJ 2010; 340: c869