Introduction: Resistance training going to muscular failure involves maximal willful effort and it is connected to bigger uneasiness. During dynamic training, the ability of reaching volitional failure depends on capability of creating greater intramuscular pressure to interrupt blood flow in the muscle. The basic assumption of resistance training going to volitional failure is optimizing the alternating process of injury and repair of the muscle, which we can trigger with maximal activation of motor units. Resistance training going to failure is namely not necessary for optimal gaining of muscular strength, because the failure reduces the force produced by the muscle. It is not known which resistance training (going to failure or not) is more efficient. Purpose: The purpose of this review was to compare if resistance training performed with lighter load and going to failure is equally efficient as resistance training performed with heavier load and not going to failure. Methods: Literature review was used as the method. We searched two data bases, PEDro and PubMed. Literature was searched with English key words. Articles included in the review were all written in English language and met the inclusion criteria. Results: Nine studies were included in the review. All studies compared the effects of resistance training going to failure and the effects of resistance training not going to failure, one study compared only the effects of resistance training going to failure. There were no statistically important changes in muscular power, strength, endurance and muscular activity between the groups in none of the studies. One study reported a statistically important difference in change of growth hormone concentration between the groups. Two studies reported statistically important differences in the change of muscle thickness, testosterone concentration and cortisol concentration. Discussion and conclusion: Both types of resistance training are suitable for gaining muscular strength, power, endurance, muscular activity and muscle thickness. Resistance training going to volitional failure is unpleasant for a lot of patients, while resistance training with heavy load and without volitional failure is riskier for causing injuries. Both types of resistance training do not differ significantly in effects and efficiency.
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