Another study on this subject that has important implications for bodybuilders was performed by Professor Dietmar Schmidtbleicher on physical education students. It may have passed unnoticed, as it is written in German and for unknown reasons was published in two different sport science journals, two years apart.
The subjects in the test had to perform five sets of three reps on the bench press with maximum weights. One group only had to do the positive part of the press, while the other performed both the positive and the negative phases (a complete rep).
The researchers measured maximal isometric strength for up to three weeks. In the subjects that only performed the positive part of the lift, strength declined after 48 hours. On day 3 their strength increased by 21%, indicating that recovery was completed and gains started to occur. On day 7, strength was up by 24% over baseline, and after 10 days the subjects’ strength peaked at 27% over baseline.
Strength loss was more intense after 48 hours in the group that performed both positive and negative work. After 3 days, strength had increased by 20%. After 7 days, strength was 24% above baseline. After 10 days, it was up by 27.5%.
Things got more interesting after 3 weeks. While the first group completely lost the training effect, strength continued to rise in the second group and reached an all-time high of 29%.
Après 3 jours le gros de l'adaptation a pris place mais la force (l'hypertrophie ?) continue de monter jusqu'à 3 semaines !!! après 3 jours + 20% après 21 jours + 29% ! Dans le groupe avec une stimulation moins forte, l'adaption plafonne après seulement 10 jours. On sait pas trop si c'est une récupération nerveuse qui dure 3 semaines alors que l'hypertrophie aurait pris place en quelques jours ou si c'est vraiment l'hypertrophie qui est continue pendant des semaines (ce qui n'est PAS supporté par d'autres études pour le moment).
Quoiqu'il en soit, ca montre tout de meme qu'il y a une vérité derrière la fréquence Mentzerienne. On peut noter aussi au passage une perte de force maintenue pendant 2 jours et un rebond seulement à partir du 3ème jour.