"Progressive resistance exercise and its application to health and clinical problems"
File(s)
Author(s)
MacQueen, Ian James
Type
Thesis
Abstract
The term "Progressive Resistance Exercise" means exercise performed against
Resistance which is increased periodically as the exerciser gains strength. The American
College of Sports Medicine defines it as - "the problems by which muscle forces or
torques are increased to overcome the internal or external resistances imposed upon
skeletal muscles". Progressive Resistance Exercise is based on the overload principle
and usually refers to weight lifting exercise. To achieve gains in muscle strength and
Itypertroplty, progressive resistance is essential to compensate for gains as the training progresses. Without this, the body's adaptation to the stimulus is limited.
This thesis will be presented in four consecutive parts. The first will be an
introduction outlining the history of Progressive Resistance Exercise (PRE) and its use in developing physical health and strength and how in the last half century exercise programmes have been experimented and designed for use in the treatment of different clinical conditions.
Mention will also be made of the contribution of the lay sports community in
designing and improving Progressive Resistance Exercise protocols for physical
developmait and better performance in sports. This interest and technology has
penetrated deeply into mary Olympic events.
The second part of the thesis is a detailed description of animal experimmts with
rats done by the auftor under British Medical Association and Nuffield Research
Scholarships. The experiments involve testing the effect of different Progressive
Resistance Exercise programmes on skeletal muscle. Comparative graphs of the
performance results have bean made and also clear photomicrographs of the results of
the Progressive Resistance Exercise on the gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles.
Similar experiments were done on partially dmervated muscles and impressive
adaptations found in the process of axon sprouting and reinnervation of these animal
muscles.
As these experiments were done a long time ago, it recommended that the literature on Progressive Resistance Exercise be reviewed and this has been done back to
1950 but particular attention paid to tiie literature during the last ten years. Thirty-two
selected papersfi-omthis decade will be analysed in detail and their programmes and
results discussed and criticized in the light of tiie most modem concepts on Progressive
Resistance Exercise training. These modern exercise techniques will be described and
suggestions made for modifications to bring the medical use of Progressive Resistance
Exercise more up to date.
Resistance which is increased periodically as the exerciser gains strength. The American
College of Sports Medicine defines it as - "the problems by which muscle forces or
torques are increased to overcome the internal or external resistances imposed upon
skeletal muscles". Progressive Resistance Exercise is based on the overload principle
and usually refers to weight lifting exercise. To achieve gains in muscle strength and
Itypertroplty, progressive resistance is essential to compensate for gains as the training progresses. Without this, the body's adaptation to the stimulus is limited.
This thesis will be presented in four consecutive parts. The first will be an
introduction outlining the history of Progressive Resistance Exercise (PRE) and its use in developing physical health and strength and how in the last half century exercise programmes have been experimented and designed for use in the treatment of different clinical conditions.
Mention will also be made of the contribution of the lay sports community in
designing and improving Progressive Resistance Exercise protocols for physical
developmait and better performance in sports. This interest and technology has
penetrated deeply into mary Olympic events.
The second part of the thesis is a detailed description of animal experimmts with
rats done by the auftor under British Medical Association and Nuffield Research
Scholarships. The experiments involve testing the effect of different Progressive
Resistance Exercise programmes on skeletal muscle. Comparative graphs of the
performance results have bean made and also clear photomicrographs of the results of
the Progressive Resistance Exercise on the gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles.
Similar experiments were done on partially dmervated muscles and impressive
adaptations found in the process of axon sprouting and reinnervation of these animal
muscles.
As these experiments were done a long time ago, it recommended that the literature on Progressive Resistance Exercise be reviewed and this has been done back to
1950 but particular attention paid to tiie literature during the last ten years. Thirty-two
selected papersfi-omthis decade will be analysed in detail and their programmes and
results discussed and criticized in the light of tiie most modem concepts on Progressive
Resistance Exercise training. These modern exercise techniques will be described and
suggestions made for modifications to bring the medical use of Progressive Resistance
Exercise more up to date.
Version
Open Access
Date Awarded
2006
Copyright Statement
Attribution NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-ND)
Advisor
Davies, Francis
Trueta, Joseph
Haines, Wheeler
Publisher Department
Medicine
Publisher Institution
University of London - Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Author Permission
Permission granted