Study about the measurement of weekly strength training volume divided by muscle groups in athletes. Wellness vs. women's physique

• Thiago Beraldo da Silveira

  Universidade São Judas Tadeu

• Gustavo Paula Leite de Almeida

• Nelson Carvas Junior

• Francisco Luciano Pontes

• Gustavo Allegretti João

• Aylton Figueira Júnior

Aim: The objective of this study was to quantify the weekly training volume of competitive female physique athletes, identify potential differences between competitive categories Wellness (WL) and Women's Physique (WP) across various muscle groups, and compare the findings with current literature recommendations. Methods: A total of 9 athletes from various federations were assessed through structured questionnaires containing detailed information about their training practices. Results: WP showed volume increases (sets=st) from off-season to pre-contest for quadriceps (17 → 30 st; +76.47%), hamstrings (11 → 24 st; +118.18%), glutes (11 → 18 st; +63.64%), triceps surae (9.5 → 14 st; +47.37%), chest (2 → 4 st; +100%), latissimus dorsi (17 → 30 st; +76.47%), shoulders (20 → 36 st; +80%), biceps (11 → 18 st; +47.37%), triceps (11 → 18 st; +47.37%), abdominals (2 → 8 st; +300%), and paravertebrals (2 → 4 st; +100%). WL athletes maintained stable volumes, particularly for: quadriceps (28 → 28 st) and glutes (24 → 24 st), with small changes across other muscle groups. WP markedly increased total weekly training volume during pre-contest, while WL showed a more stable profile. These differences highlight distinct periodization models aligned with aesthetic and functional requirements of each competitive category. Conclusion: These findings align with current literature regarding training periodization in physique sports. Nonetheless, further research is warranted to elucidate the specific training approaches employed by athletes in different categories, thereby enabling more precise and evidence-based recommendations.

• PDF

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science

Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:

a) The authors assign copyright to the magazine, with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which allows the work to be shared with recognition of its authorship and publication in this magazine.

b) The policy adopted by the Editorial Committee is to assign copyright only after a period of 30 months from the date of publication of the article. After this time, authors interested in publishing the same text in another work must send a letter to the Editorial Committee requesting permission to transfer copyright and await a response.

c) This magazine provides public access to all its content, as this allows greater visibility and reach of published articles and reviews. For more information about this approach, visit the Public Knowledge Project, a project that developed this system to improve the academic and public quality of research, distributing OJS as well as other software to support the public access publishing system for academic sources. The names and email addresses on this site will be used exclusively for the purposes of the magazine and will not be available for other purposes. This journal provides open any other party This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License