One Simple Training Trick to Boost Muscle Strength 50 Percent

We’ve known for a while that “slow and steady” wins the race. Now it looks like it may make you substantially stronger, too.
According to a study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness , super-slow weight training may increase strength gains by 50 percent. Yes, 50 PERCENT!
In the study, researchers split 147 weight trainers among two groups. Both groups trained three times a week for eight weeks on a 13-exercise weight-training circuit.
The only difference between the groups was the speed at which they lifted and lowered the weight. One group trained at a conventional speed (2 seconds lifting, 1-second pause, 4 seconds lowering).
The other group was asked to dramatically slow things down (10 seconds lifting, 4 seconds lowering). At the beginning and end of the trial period, all of the participants were tested for their 10-rep max.
Results showed that super-slow training resulted in about a 50 percent greater increase in strength than regular-speed training. Specifically, the super-slow training group showed a mean increase in 10-rep max of 26.4 pounds. The regular-speed group experienced only a 17.6-pound increase.
Lead study researcher Dr. Wayne Westcott believes the results are due to the increase in lifting intensity seen with super-slow training.
“Slower repetition speed may effectively increase intensity throughout the lifting phase while decreasing momentum,” he says.

Related articles

  • The Top 5 Testosterone-Boosting Supplements of 2025: Unleashing the Power Within

    The Testosterone Meltdown and Nature’s Comeback By Dr. James R. Caldwell, Ph.D., FACSM; Director of Research, Applied Nutritional Res...
  • The Rise of Sam Sulek: Humility and Growth Pave the Way to Success

    [stylesheet-group="0"]{} body{margin:0;} button::-moz-focus-inner,input::-moz-focus-inner{border:0;padding:0;} html{-ms-text-size-adjust:100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);} input::-webkit-search-cancel-button,input::-webkit-search-decoration,input::-webkit-search-results-button,input::-webkit-search-results-decoration{display:none;} [stylesheet-group="1"]{} .css-146c3p1{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.00);border:0 solid black;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgba(0,0,0,1.00);display:inline;font:14px -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;list-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;position:relative;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;white-space:pre-wrap;word-wrap:break-word;} .css-175oi2r{align-items:stretch;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.00);border:0 solid black;box-sizing:border-box;display:flex;flex-basis:auto;flex-direction:column;flex-shrink:0;list-style:none;margin:0px;min-height:0px;min-width:0px;padding:0px;position:relative;text-decoration:none;z-index:0;} .css-1jxf684{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.00);border:0 solid black;box-sizing:border-box;color:inherit;display:inline;font:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;position:relative;text-align:inherit;text-decoration:none;white-space:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;} .css-9pa8cd{bottom:0px;height:100%;left:0px;opacity:0;position:absolute;right:0px;top:0px;width:100%;z-index:-1;} [stylesheet-group="2"]{} .r-13awgt0{flex:1;} .r-1adg3ll{display:block;} .r-1jkafct{border-bottom-left-radius:2px;border-bottom-right-radius:2px;border-top-left-radius:2px;border-top-right-radius:2px;} .r-1phboty{border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:solid;} .r-1udh08x{overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:hidden;} .r-4iw3lz{border-bottom-width:0;border-left-width:0;border-right-width:0;border-top-width:0;} .r-4qtqp9{display:inline-block;} .r-6koalj{display:flex;} .r-bztko3{overflow-x:visible;overflow-y:visible;} .r-crgep1{margin:0px;} .r-hvic4v{display:none;} .r-krxsd3{display:-webkit-box;} .r-rs99b7{border-bottom-width:1px;border-left-width:1px;border-right-width:1px;border-top-width:1px;} .r-sdzlij{border-bottom-left-radius:9999px;border-bottom-right-radius:9999px;border-top-left-radius:9999px;border-top-right-radius:9999px;} .r-t60dpp{padding:0px;} .r-wwvuq4{padding:0;} .r-xoduu5{display:inline-flex;} .r-ywje51{margin:auto;} .r-z2wwpe{border-bottom-left-radius:4px;border-bottom-right-radius:4px;border-top-left-radius:4px;border-top-right-radius:4px;} [stylesheet-group="2.1"]{} .r-1559e4e{padding-bottom:2px;padding-top:2px;} .r-1fkl15p{padding-left:32px;padding-right:32px;} .r-3o4zer{padding-left:12px;padding-right:12px;} .r-3pj75a{padding-left:16px;padding-right:16px;} .r-cxgwc0{padding-left:24px;padding-right:24px;} .r-dd0y9b{padding-bottom:20px;padding-top:20px;} .r-ddtstp{margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px;} .r-dp7rxi{padding-bottom:40px;padding-top:40px;} .r-f8sm7e{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;} .r-n7gxbd{padding-left:4px;padding-right:4px;} .r-s49dbf{margin-bottom:1px;margin-top:1px;} .r-sjygvo{padding-left:1em;padding-right:1em;} [stylesheet-group="2.2"]{} .r-1ca1ndr{margin-left:0.5em;} .r-1ez5h0i{margin-left:4px;} .r-1gs4q39{margin-right:4px;} .r-1kkk96v{margin-left:8px;} .r-1kpi4qh{margin-left:0.075em;} .r-1l2kgy{margin-right:0.5em;} .r-1q6cnnd{right:-2px;} .r-1wron08{margin-right:8px;} .r-3t4u6i{margin-left:2px;} .r-45ll9u{left:50%;} .r-5f1w11{left:-2px;} .r-k4bwe5{margin-right:0.075em;} .r-o59np7{padding-right:8px;} .r-ocobd0{right:50%;} .r-qjj4hq{padding-left:8px;} .r-x1x4zq{margin-right:2px;} [stylesheet-group="3"]{} .r-105ug2t{pointer-events:auto!important;} .r-109y4c4{height:1px;} .r-10ptun7{height:16px;} .r-10v3vxq{transform:scaleX(-1);} .r-117bsoe{margin-bottom:20px;} .r-11c0sde{margin-top:24px;} .r-11j9u27{visibility:hidden;} .r-12181gd{box-shadow:0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.03) inset;} .r-12sks89{min-height:22px;} .r-12vffkv>*{pointer-events:auto;} .r-12vffkv{pointer-events:none!important;} .r-12ym1je{width:18px;} .r-135wba7{line-height:24px;} .r-13qz1uu{width:100%;} .r-13wfysu{-webkit-text-decoration-line:none;text-decoration-line:none;} .r-146iojx{max-width:300px;} .r-1472mwg{height:24px;} .r-14j79pv{color:rgba(83,100,113,1.00);} .r-14lw9ot{background-color:rgba(255,255,255,1.00);} .r-15ysp7h{min-height:32px;} .r-16dba41{font-weight:400;} .r-16y2uox{flex-grow:1;} .r-176fswd{transform:translateX(-50%) translateY(-50%);} .r-1777fci{justify-content:center;} .r-17bb2tj{animation-duration:0.75s;} .r-17leim2{background-repeat:repeat;} .r-17s6mgv{justify-content:flex-end;} .r-18jsvk2{color:rgba(15,20,25,1.00);} .r-18tzken{width:56px;} .r-18u37iz{flex-direction:row;} .r-18yzcnr{height:22px;} .r-19wmn03{width:20px;} .r-19yznuf{min-height:52px;} .r-1abnn5w{animation-play-state:paused;} .r-1acpoxo{width:36px;} .r-1ad0z5i{word-break:break-all;} .r-1awozwy{align-items:center;} .r-1b43r93{font-size:14px;} .r-1betnmo{max-width:672px;} .r-1blnp2b{width:72px;} .r-1blvdjr{font-size:23px;} .r-1ceczpf{min-height:24px;} .r-1cwl3u0{line-height:16px;} .r-1d2f490{left:0px;} .r-1ddef8g{-webkit-text-decoration-line:underline;text-decoration-line:underline;} .r-1ebb2ja{list-style:none;} .r-1ff274t{text-align:right;} .r-1gkfh8e{font-size:11px;} .r-1h0z5md{justify-content:flex-start;} .r-1h8ys4a{padding-top:4px;} .r-1hjwoze{height:18px;} .r-1iln25a{word-wrap:normal;} .r-1inkyih{font-size:17px;} .r-1ipicw7{width:300px;} .r-1iusvr4{flex-basis:0px;} .r-1janqcz{width:16px;} .r-1jaylin{width:-webkit-max-content;width:-moz-max-content;width:max-content;} .r-1k78y06{font-family:Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif;} .r-1kihuf0{align-self:center;} .r-1ldzwu0{animation-timing-function:linear;} .r-1loqt21{cursor:pointer;} .r-1mlwlqe{flex-basis:auto;} .r-1mrlafo{background-position:0;} .r-1muvv40{animation-iteration-count:infinite;} .r-1mwlp6a{height:56px;} .r-1nao33i{color:rgba(231,233,234,1.00);} .r-1niwhzg{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.00);} .r-1ny4l3l{outline-style:none;} .r-1oifz5y{background-color:rgba(170,17,0,1.00);} .r-1oszu61{align-items:stretch;} .r-1otgn73{touch-action:manipulation;} .r-1p0dtai{bottom:0px;} .r-1pi2tsx{height:100%;} .r-1ps3wis{min-width:44px;} .r-1qd0xha{font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;} .r-1qi8awa{min-width:36px;} .r-1r5jyh0{min-height:130px;} .r-1r8g8re{height:36px;} .r-1s2hp8q{min-height:26px;} .r-1sxrcry{background-size:auto;} .r-1tl8opc{font-family:"Segoe UI",Meiryo,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,sans-serif;} .r-1to6hqq{background-color:rgba(255,212,0,1.00);} .r-1ttztb7{text-align:inherit;} .r-1udbk01{text-overflow:ellipsis;} .r-1v2oles{top:50%;} .r-1vmecro{direction:rtl;} .r-1vr29t4{font-weight:800;} .r-1wb8bfx{text-decoration-thickness:2px;} .r-1wbh5a2{flex-shrink:1;} .r-1wyyakw{z-index:-1;} .r-1xcajam{position:fixed;} .r-1xk2f4g{clip:rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);} .r-1xnzce8{-moz-user-select:text;-webkit-user-select:text;user-select:text;} .r-1xvli5t{height:1.25em;} .r-1y7e96w{min-width:22px;} .r-1ye8kvj{max-width:600px;} .r-1yef0xd{animation-name:r-11cv4x;} .r-1yjpyg1{font-size:31px;} .r-1ykxob0{top:60%;} .r-2o02ov{margin-top:40px;} .r-2tavb8{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.60);} .r-2yi16{min-height:36px;} .r-36ujnk{font-style:italic;} .r-37tt59{line-height:32px;} .r-3s2u2q{white-space:nowrap;} .r-417010{z-index:0;} .r-4gszlv{background-size:cover;} .r-4wgw6l{min-width:32px;} .r-54znze{color:rgba(239,243,244,1.00);} .r-56xrmm{line-height:12px;} .r-6026j{background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.85);} .r-633pao{pointer-events:none!important;} .r-6416eg{-moz-transition-property:background-color, box-shadow;-webkit-transition-property:background-color, box-shadow;transition-property:background-color, box-shadow;} .r-64el8z{min-width:52px;} .r-7q8q6z{cursor:default;} .r-8akbws{-webkit-box-orient:vertical;} .r-8jfcpp{top:-2px;} .r-92ng3h{width:1px;} .r-a023e6{font-size:15px;} .r-adyw6z{font-size:20px;} .r-agouwx{transform:translateZ(0);} .r-ah5dr5>*{pointer-events:none;} .r-ah5dr5{pointer-events:auto!important;} .r-aqfbo4{backface-visibility:hidden;} .r-b88u0q{font-weight:700;} .r-bcqeeo{min-width:0px;} .r-bnwqim{position:relative;} .r-bt1l66{min-height:20px;} .r-bvlit7{margin-bottom:-12px;} .r-deolkf{box-sizing:border-box;} .r-dflpy8{height:1.2em;} .r-dnmrzs{max-width:100%;} .r-ehq7j7{background-size:contain;} .r-emqnss{transform:translateZ(0px);} .r-eqz5dr{flex-direction:column;} .r-ero68b{min-height:40px;} .r-fdjqy7{text-align:left;} .r-fm7h5w{font-family:"TwitterChirpExtendedHeavy","Verdana",-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;} .r-h9hxbl{width:1.2em;} .r-icoktb{opacity:0.5;} .r-ifefl9{min-height:0px;} .r-impgnl{transform:translateX(50%) translateY(-50%);} .r-iphfwy{padding-bottom:4px;} .r-ipm5af{top:0px;} .r-jmul1s{transform:scale(1.1);} .r-jwli3a{color:rgba(255,255,255,1.00);} .r-kemksi{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,1.00);} .r-lp5zef{min-width:24px;} .r-lrsllp{width:24px;} .r-lrvibr{-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;user-select:none;} .r-m6rgpd{vertical-align:text-bottom;} .r-majxgm{font-weight:500;} .r-n6v787{font-size:13px;} .r-nwxazl{line-height:40px;} .r-o7ynqc{transition-duration:0.2s;} .r-peo1c{min-height:44px;} .r-poiln3{font-family:inherit;} .r-pp5qcn{vertical-align:-20%;} .r-q4m81j{text-align:center;} .r-qlhcfr{font-size:0.001px;} .r-qvk6io{line-height:0px;} .r-qvutc0{word-wrap:break-word;} .r-rjixqe{line-height:20px;} .r-rki7wi{bottom:12px;} .r-sb58tz{max-width:1000px;} .r-tjvw6i{text-decoration-thickness:1px;} .r-u6sd8q{background-repeat:no-repeat;} .r-u8s1d{position:absolute;} .r-ueyrd6{line-height:36px;} .r-uho16t{font-size:34px;} .r-vkv6oe{min-width:40px;} .r-vlxjld{color:rgba(247,249,249,1.00);} .r-vqxq0j{border:0 solid black;} .r-vrz42v{line-height:28px;} .r-vvn4in{background-position:center;} .r-wy61xf{height:72px;} .r-x3cy2q{background-size:100% 100%;} .r-x572qd{background-color:rgba(247,249,249,1.00);} .r-xigjrr{-webkit-filter:blur(4px);filter:blur(4px);} .r-yc9v9c{width:22px;} .r-yfoy6g{background-color:rgba(21,32,43,1.00);} .r-yy2aun{font-size:26px;} .r-yyyyoo{fill:currentcolor;} .r-z7pwl0{max-width:700px;} .r-z80fyv{height:20px;} .r-zchlnj{right:0px;} @-webkit-keyframes r-11cv4x{0%{transform:rotate(0deg);}100%{transform:rotate(360deg);}} @keyframes r-11cv4x{0%{transform:rotate(0deg);}100%{transform:rotate(360deg);}} .r-efm9vo{position:absolute;visibility:hidden;top:0;width:50px;pointer-events:none} .r-efm9vo.loaded{visibility:visible;top:50vh;width:50px} Discover the meteoric rise of Sam Sulek, the 23-year-old bodybuilding sensation who earned his IFBB Pro Card at the Arnold Classic Amateur on February 27, 2025. Known for his humbleness and willingness to learn, Sulek transformed his training after a pivotal session with 2024 Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda, shifting from ego lifting to mind-muscle connection techniques. His recent victories, including the NPC Legends Classic and Arnold Amateur Classic Physique Overall, showcase this evolution. Fitness influencer Greg Doucette once criticized Sulek’s bulking diet of sugary cereal and fast food, prompting a dietary overhaul that fueled his championship physique. Explore how Sam Sulek’s adaptability and dedication have made him bodybuilding’s next big star.
  • THE GREAT HIGH-INTENSITY CONSPIRACY: WHY WEAK-MINDED "EXERCISE SCIENTISTS" FEAR MIKE MENTZER'S TRUTH!

    Discover the truth behind Mike Mentzer’s High-Intensity Training (HIT) and why mainstream exercise scientists and fitness industry elites fear it. Despite Mentzer’s Mr. Universe win, perfect 300 score, and scientific backing from Arthur Jones' research, critics continue to dismiss HIT—often without the physique or real-world results to back up their claims. This article exposes how the billion-dollar fitness industry profits from misinformation, pushing ineffective high-volume training while ignoring HIT's proven success. With evidence from Dorian Yates' six-time Mr. Olympia reign and the scientific principles of progressive overload and recovery, we challenge the skeptics and reveal why HIT is the ultimate muscle-building method. Read on to find out why traditional training methods keep you weak and how Mentzer’s revolutionary system can help you build muscle faster and smarter!
  • Old-School Iron: Why HIT and Barbell Basics Beat the Lab-Coat Methods

    Discover why old-school training methods like High-Intensity Training (HIT), championed by legends like Mike Mentzer and Dorian Yates, still reign supreme over today’s overly complex, tech-driven fitness trends. This blog explores the raw, results-driven power of barbells, dumbbells, and Nautilus machines, contrasting them with the flashy yet often ineffective tools of modern exercise science. Learn how simplicity, grit, and proven principles like progressive overload can help you build an elite physique. Dive into the timeless philosophy of training that forges mental toughness and delivers undeniable results—because greatness isn’t built in a lab; it’s forged in iron. Keywords for SEO: old-school training, High-Intensity Training, HIT, Mike Mentzer, Dorian Yates, progressive overload, bodybuilding, fitness philosophy, barbell training, dumbbell workouts. Let me know if you'd like further refinements or adjustments!
Go to full site