FT Questions....

[Scott Stevenson]

Thank you Scott, I had the same thoughts. I definitely plan on using more unilateral movements (or even the same movements but just done with one arm at a time e.g. machine row or DB shoulder press supporting myself with the non-working arm). I think I could potentially keep 1-leg leg presses in there as well if I stop short of failure. And will be consciously changing my breathing patterns.

You have at some time in the past made a reference to how blood pressures can get extremely high during training. I know you said you haven't seen 6RM vs 25RM for example, but have you seen different exercises compared? I am wondering if there is a huge difference between say benching and squatting or if any compound pushed to failure is going to be in a similar range (with squats only being slightly higher). Squatting is about 50% more load in my case, and more involved, but I push very hard on both so just curious if you've seen any data like that.

Ironically, I more so than others here seemed to be fighting the recommendation of a lot of exercises and many isolations....it seems that is what I now must do

I'll try not to kill myself with barbell benching

Hey man,

Here are a couple slides from a class I taught earlier this year. There isn't much out there on BP responses to resistance exercise (in part b/c it's a tough thing to measure due to muscle contraction around the arteries during the exercise, even in muscle not directly involved in the movement).

BP can approach 300/ 200 at the end of a big set. And may be higher at the end of a multi-rep set than a single, at least in untrained lifters. I've not see BP's measured during max efforts in trained lifters, but haven't looked for that (at least for a while).

Check the attached images - there is a LOT of information in there: 3 difference exercises, the effect of training load and training status (bodybuilders vs. novice lifters vs. control).

Here are the sources:

Double leg press: McCartney, N., McKelvie, R. S., Martin, J., Sale, D. G., & MacDougall, J. D. (1993). Weight-training-induced attenuation of the circulatory response of older males to weight lifting. J Appl Physiol (1985), 74(3), 1056-1060.
 

Uniateral movements: Fleck, S. J., & Dean, L. S. (1987). Resistance-training experience and the pressor response during resistance exercise. J Appl Physiol (1985), 63(1), 116-120.
 
-S