Author(s): BURGER, C., FISCHER, J., TILP, M., KONRAD, A., Institution: INSTITUTE OF HUMAN MOVEMENT SCIENCE, SPORT AND HEALTH, Country: AUSTRIA, Abstract-ID: 1330

INTRODUCTION:
Mechanical overload is a central determinant of skeletal muscle adaptation [1]. Conventional resistance training paradigms commonly rely on concentric-eccentric contractions with moderate to high training intensities to induce gains in strength and muscle mass. Supramaximal accentuated eccentric loading (SAEL) represents a targeted strategy to increase mechanical strain by applying loads exceeding the concentric one-repetition maximum during the eccentric phase [2], potentially enabling more effective stimulation across the eccentric phase [3]. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to synthetize the current evidence on the acute and chronic effects of SAEL on strength and physiological mechanisms.
METHODS:
A literature search was conducted across PubMed and Web of Science databases using terms related to eccentric training and accentuated eccentric loading. A total of 851 potentially relevant articles were identified and screened. Studies investigating acute mechanistic responses and chronic physiological adaptations to eccentric overload were subsequently included. Overall, 44 studies that investigated chronic (15) and acute (39) effects of SAEL were reviewed and qualitatively discussed.
RESULTS:
Available evidence suggests that SAEL substantially increases mechanical strain on muscle fibers and connective tissue, engaging mechanosensitive structures such as titin and costameres and amplifying integrin- and focal adhesion kinase-mediated signaling. These stimuli are associated with activation of anabolic signaling cascades, increased satellite cell activity, and type-II fiber-specific molecular responses. From a neural perspective, eccentric overload is linked to reduced inhibitory input at the spinal level and altered motor unit recruitment. These adaptations appear particularly relevant during the first few training sessions and may facilitate large gains in eccentric strength with high transfer to concentric and isometric strength. Furthermore, eccentric overload elicits high force output at reduced metabolic cost. Morphological adaptations include region-specific hypertrophy, increases in muscle fascicle length, and architectural remodeling that differ from those typically observed after conventional resistance training.
CONCLUSION:
In summary, SAEL provides a potent mechanical stimulus that induces distinct neuromuscular and morphological adaptations. While strength gains following SAEL are generally comparable to, and in some cases greater than those achieved with traditional resistance training [2, 3], the current literature is limited by methodological heterogeneity and relatively short intervention durations. Further controlled studies are required to clarify long-term adaptation patterns and the practical relevance of SAEL across different training populations.
1. Goodman et al. 2011. J Physiol. 589;(22):5485–501
2. Walker et al. 2016. Front Physiol. 7;7:149
3. Brandenburg & Docherty 2002. JSCR. 16;16(1):25–32