Volume training and strength gains..

[Tony]

It's a no brainer that one should always try to add weight to the bar in order to progress regardless of protocol/desired rep range.

Would this hold true in a volume phase? I remember reading somewhere that up to a 10% decrease in strength is OK as long as you get all the work in AND deload. You'll see your gains in the subsequent lower volume phase.

[PowerManDL]

Volume training has a delayed training effect.

Think of volume training as actually building up the strength, generally through anatomical changes (read: muscle growth) but masking it with fatigue (generally neurological, but there's some systemic effects and local/muscular effects as well).

The unloading dissipates the fatigue, keeping the effects that the volume of work created, and if needed allowing a peak to occur.

EDIT: To answer your question, no. Some increase in loading should occur, naturally, but it shouldn't be the emphasis. The volume of work, and in some cases increasing that volume, should be the priority.

[Tony]

Originally posted by PowerManDL@May 18 2006, 10:53 PM
Volume training has a delayed training effect.

Think of volume training as actually building up the strength, generally through anatomical changes (read: muscle growth) but masking it with fatigue (generally neurological, but there's some systemic effects and local/muscular effects as well).

The unloading dissipates the fatigue, keeping the effects that the volume of work created, and if needed allowing a peak to occur.
That's what I thought..

Do you think that a 10% strength drop is a good cut-off in terms of terminating the volume phase and starting the deload?

[PowerManDL]

I'm never that strict about it.

I just hammer the fuck out of myself til I can't stand going to the gym and call it a day.