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NCT Number: NCT07360236

Determining the Effect of Shoulder Flexion Angle on Latissimus Dorsi and Forearm Flexor Hypertrophy

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the effect of training a muscle at a longer or shorter muscle length during resistance exercise in young and healthy adults. Participants will undergo two types of resistance training conditions that are randomly assigned to the left and right arm. The LATPULLDOWN (LPD) condition refers to performing an exercise that places the latissimus dorsi muscle at a long muscle length when the shoulder is elevated to 180° of shoulder flexion. The LATROW (LR) condition refers to performing an exercise that places the latissimus dorsi muscle at a shorter muscle length when the shoulder is elevated to 90° of shoulder flexion.

The main questions the trial aims to answer are:

1. Does resistance training the latissimus dorsi muscle at a long muscle length result in greater muscle growth than training at a shorter muscle length? 2. Does resistance training the latissmus dorsi muscle at long or short muscle lengths result in regional muscle growth differences of the latissimus dorsi?

We hypothesize that:

1. LAT PULLDOWN will induce greater hypertrophy compared to LAT ROW condition 2. LAT PULLDOWN will result in greater increases in 1RM compared to LATROW condition 3. LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW will result in angle specific differences in Isokinetic strength 4. LAT PULLDOWN will result in greater inferior Latissimus Dorsi hypertrophy 5. LAT ROW will result in greater superior Latissimus Dorsi hypertrophy

The investigators will compare the change in muscle volume and muscular strength between the LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW training conditions, which each participant will have the left and right arm randomly assigned to either exclusively LAT PULLDOWN or LAT ROW conditions.

Participants will:

* Resistance train the left and right arm with two separate conditions; LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW for 12 weeks, with the first and last weeks dedicated to only strength testing (Isotonic and Isokinetic) and measuring muscle volume via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) * Visit the gym for resistance training 2 times per week * Visit the UBC MRI Research Facility in weeks 1 and 12 for MRI of muscle volume

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Key information

Conditions

Muscle Hypertrophy Muscular Strength

Age range

19 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Statistical Analysis:

Null Hypothesis Significance Testing (NHST) will be used to measure differences in hypertrophy, differences in 1RM strength and isokinetic strength between LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW conditions.

It is anticipated that this study will require at least 20 participants to be screened and registered into the trial. Data will be analyzed on the basis that all participants will be included in the analysis. Participants who drop out (withdraw from treatment) will be followed up with to collect all available data and will not be replaced. Missing data will be assumed missing at random.

Sample Size Calculation:

Based on the effect size reported by Maeo et al. (2023) for difference in triceps brachia long head hypertrophy between training performed in the lengthened compared to shortened position using a within participant design, (d=0.61) a sample size of 20 participants was calculated to achieve an a priori power of 90%.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Any sex
  • Able to understand and communicate in English
  • 19-30 years of age
  • All "No" answers on the CSEP Get Active questionnaire or doctors' approval to participate
  • Trained participants: Structured resistance training over at least the past 12-months (i.e., ≥ 2 hours per week of structured/periodized training)

Exclusion criteria

Participants will be excluded from this study if they meet any of the following criteria:

  • BMI lower than 18 or greater than 30
  • Difficulty to understand and communicate in English
  • Current use of cigarettes or other nicotine devices
  • Any major uncontrolled cardiovascular, muscular, metabolic, and/or neurological disorders
  • Any medical condition impacting the ability to participate in maximal exercise
  • Type one or type two diabetes
  • Diagnosis of cancer or undergoing cancer treatment in the past 12 months
  • Drug therapy with any drugs that alter skeletal muscle metabolism (i.e., Metformin, Benzodiazepines)
  • Implants containing ferrous metal
  • Surgery or tattoos (including tattooed eyeliner) in the last 6 weeks
  • Pregnancy

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Exclusion Criteria

CANNOT participate if you have any of the following:

  • Retained wires from an electronic implant that has been removed (i.e., pacemaker wires not attached to a pacemaker)
  • Cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator
  • Metal in eye or orbit
  • Ferromagnetic aneurysm clip
  • Makeup tattoos that are not designed to fade over time
  • Stainless steel intrauterine device (IUD)

Depending on the individual situation, you may not be able to participate if you have/had any of the following:

  • Artificial heart valve
  • Ear or eye implant
  • Brain aneurysm clip
  • Implanted electronic device (i.e., drug infusion pump, electrical stimulator)
  • Orthopedic hardware (artificial joint, plate, screw, rod)
  • Shrapnel, bullets, or other metal fragments
  • Surgery, medical procedure, or tattoos (including tattooed eyeliner) in the last six weeks
  • Other metallic prostheses

Treatment and study plan

LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW training sessions

Other

One arm will be randomly assigned to perform LAT PULLDOWN and the contralateral arm will be randomly assigned to perform LAT ROW on a cable machine. Each exercise will include 1 warm up set at 50% 1RM followed by 4-5 sets of 8-12 repetitions per limb. 2 minutes of rest between sets on the ipsilateral limb with 30s between the contralateral limb. The left and right limbs will alternate each session in which one starts each exercise, resulting in 10 training sessions each where the left and right limbs starts first on each exercise. All sets will be performed to momentary failure. A Dynamic Double Progression will be employed to ensure intensity is maintained throughout the intervention.

Maximal isotonic strength testing (1RM)

Other

Each limb will perform a 1RM strength test of the Lat Pulldown and Lat Row on the cable machine respectively. Testing will occur in weeks 1 and 12 of the study with the non-dominant arm tested before the dominant arm. Participants self-selects first warm up set with a weight that is performed between 6-10 repetitions on both limbs. Rest for 1 minute between limbs and subsequent set. A weight is then selected by research staff to perform 3 repetitions with based on previous set. Load is now increased until 1RM is achieved. 3 minutes of rest will be taken between 1RM attempts, with 1RM being complete within 3-5 attempts. Participant will rest 3 minutes before starting testing on the other exercise. The 1RM protocol is repeated for the second exercise. Initial strength testing results and progression from the 10 week training intervention will help to inform testing weights for the post strength testing session. Post strength testing will follow the same protocol as pre strength testing.

Isokinetic strength testing (1080 Quantum)

Other

Participants will engage in isokinetic strength testing on the 1080 Quantum Syncro machine in weeks 1 and 12 for both movements: Shoulder extension from 180° and shoulder extension from 90°. Participants will perform each movement unilaterally. Participants will start with the non-dominant arm. Each movement will be tested through A maximal active range of motion. Participants will complete 10 sub-maximal repetitions to allow familiarization each movement. After a 2-minute rest, participants will complete 4 maximal concentric and eccentric repetitions with 3 minutes rest at 30°/second for 3 sets. The protocol is then repeated on the dominant limb.

Primary outcomes

  1. Muscle volume and Cross sectional area

    Time frame: From enrolment to the end of the intervention at 12 weeks

    Muscle volume of the latissimus dorsi, biceps brachii, brachialis, posterior deltoid and teres major muscle will be measured by cross sectional area (CSA) via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The entire muscle length will be imaged and images at 25%, 50% and 75% of the entire muscle length will be analyzed to calculate CSA and any regional differences in hypertrophy.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Isotonic strength testing (1RM)

    Time frame: Initial testing in week 1 and final testing in week 12

    Isotonic strength testing will compare the magnitude of gains in isotonic strength via a one repetition maximum test (1RM) which is the maximum weight lifted for 1 repetition. Isotonic strength will be measured using a cable machine for a Lat Pulldown and Lat Row exercise. Single arm shoulder extension from 180° and 90° will be tested for 1RM (maximum weight lifted for 1 repetition).

  2. Isokinetic strength testing

    Time frame: Initial testing in week 1 to final testing in week 12

    Isokinetic Strength Testing: Compare the magnitude of gains in isokinetic strength in the LAT PULLDOWN and LAT ROW conditions for two movements. Single arm shoulder extension from 180° and 90° measured on a 1080 Quantum Syncro set to an isokinetic setting for both the concentric and eccentric contraction phases at 30°/second.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Adam G Jones, B.Kin, MSc Kinesiology Student

CONTACT

[email protected]

12365135196

Dr. Cameron Mitchell

CONTACT

[email protected]

6048272702

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of British Columbia

Other

Registry information

Acronym: LPDLR

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 22, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 22, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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