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Life
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Effects of Exercise Training on Muscle Function—2nd Edition
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Effects of Exercise Training on Muscle Function—2nd Edition

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 March 2026 | Viewed by 1951

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marco Duca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sport, Exercise, Recreation, and Kinesiology, Clemmer College, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
Interests: resistance training; football; track and field; sprint; strength and conditioning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Athos Trecroci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Science for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: training and testing; football; team sports; strength and conditioning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Exercise training has emerged as a vital tool in optimizing athletic performance and overall fitness. This Special Issue will unravel the intricate mechanisms underlying how these training modalities influence muscle function at various levels.

Resistance training, characterized by progressively more challenging muscular contractions, has shown the capacity to induce muscle hypertrophy, enhance strength, and improve functional abilities. Similarly, HIIT, involving brief bursts of intense exercise followed by recovery periods, has gained attention due to its potential to boost cardiovascular fitness and metabolic efficiency, potentially affecting muscle fibre composition.

Through a collection of research articles and reviews, this Special Issue will provide a comprehensive exploration of the effects of resistance training and HIIT on muscle function. We invite submissions elucidating the molecular, cellular, and physiological adaptations that drive these improvements. Additionally, we encourage investigations into their integration into sports training and protocols, as well as potential synergies between these modalities.

This Special Issue will serve as a platform to enrich our understanding of how exercise training influences muscle function, providing invaluable insights for both practitioners and researchers. Together, we will bridge the gap between theory and practice, fostering a deeper comprehension of how these training modalities can optimize muscle function and, ultimately, elevate physical performance.

Dr. Marco Duca
Dr. Athos Trecroci
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • exercise
  • training
  • muscle function
  • resistance training
  • HIIT

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4858 KB  
Article
Electromyographic Patterns of Scapular Muscles During Four Variations of Protraction–Retraction Exercises
by Eui-Young Jung, Su-Yeon Roh and Woo-Lim Mun
Life 2025, 15(12), 1840; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15121840 - 29 Nov 2025
Viewed by 830
Abstract
(1) Background: How variations of the push-up plus (PUP)—particularly changes in the base of support and scapular excursion—affect scapular muscle activation remains unclear. This study compared phase-specific electromyographic (EMG) activity of scapular muscles during four protraction–retraction exercises. (2) Methods: Twenty-six healthy male participants [...] Read more.
(1) Background: How variations of the push-up plus (PUP)—particularly changes in the base of support and scapular excursion—affect scapular muscle activation remains unclear. This study compared phase-specific electromyographic (EMG) activity of scapular muscles during four protraction–retraction exercises. (2) Methods: Twenty-six healthy male participants (age: 22.88 ± 1.45 years; height: 1.74 ± 0.05 m; weight: 77.31 ± 8.61 kg; body mass index (BMI): 25.61 ± 2.43 kg/m2) with Pilates experience performed four scapular protraction–retraction exercises under two base-of-support (quadruped vs. single-leg) and two movement-range (PUP vs. STD) conditions. Exercise order was randomized, and sufficient rest intervals were provided to minimize fatigue effects. Surface electromyography was recorded from six scapular muscles and normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contraction. The study was registered on CRIS (KCT0010032). (3) Results: Single-leg PUP showed the greatest serratus anterior (SA) activation, with increases of approximately 30% in protraction, 20–25% in isometric, and 15–20% in retraction. STD variations elicited higher trapezius activation, especially during large scapular excursions. The UT/SA ratio was significantly lower in PUP conditions (η2p = 0.544), reflecting a more favorable stabilization pattern. (4) Conclusions: This experimental repeated-measures study demonstrates that combining single-leg support with traditional PUP meaningfully increases SA recruitment across all phases, whereas increased scapular range enhances trapezius engagement. These findings provide novel phase-specific insights into how PUP variations modulate closed-chain scapular stabilization and may assist clinicians in selecting targeted exercises. Interpretation should be limited to trained healthy males. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Exercise Training on Muscle Function—2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 261 KB  
Article
Impact of a 12-Week Core Stability Training on Upper Trunk Stability, Trunk Mobility, and Postural Asymmetries in University Students
by Stefan Alecu, Gheorghe Adrian Onea and Dana Badau
Life 2025, 15(12), 1801; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15121801 - 24 Nov 2025
Viewed by 863
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week Core Stability Training (CST) program on trunk mobility (twisting and bending), upper quarter dynamic balance (UQ-YBT scores), and postural asymmetry indices (Anterior—ATSI—and Posterior Trunk Symmetry Indices—POTSI) of university students. This study examined [...] Read more.
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week Core Stability Training (CST) program on trunk mobility (twisting and bending), upper quarter dynamic balance (UQ-YBT scores), and postural asymmetry indices (Anterior—ATSI—and Posterior Trunk Symmetry Indices—POTSI) of university students. This study examined the effects of a 12-week CST program on trunk mobility and dynamic balance in 181 university students (70 females, 111 males; aged 18–24 years). Participants completed one supervised 90–100-min session per week. Baseline postural symmetry, assessed with the ATSI and POTSI, showed no sex differences. After training, trunk mobility improved significantly (p < 0.001). The female group increased twisting by 5.3° and bending by 6.5 cm, while the male group improved by 4.7–6.1° and 6.0–6.1 cm, respectively (η2 = 0.625–0.773). Dynamic balance measured by the UQ-YBT also improved in all directions (p < 0.001). Mean gains ranged from 4.0 to 9.7 points, with large effect sizes, especially in males (η2 up to 0.842). CST effectively enhanced trunk mobility and upper trunk stability in both sexes. Although postural asymmetry did not change, the program improved neuromuscular control and balance, demonstrating its value in promoting postural health among university students. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Exercise Training on Muscle Function—2nd Edition)
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