Can the cross-education of strength attenuate the impact of detraining after a period of strength training? A quasi-randomized trial

Unilateral strength training may attenuate the decline in muscle strength and size in homologous, contralateral muscles. This study aimed to determine whether the cross-education of strength could specifically attenuate the effects of detraining immediately after a short (prehabilitation-type) period of strength training.

Twenty-six strength-trained participants were assigned to either four weeks of unilateral strength training of the stronger arm (UNI) or detraining (Detrain). Motor evoked potential (MEP) and cortical silent period (cSP) responses, muscle cross-sectional area (CSA_Flexor; peripheral quantitative computed tomography) and maximal strength, rate of force development (RFD) and muscle activation (EMG) were examined in both elbow flexors before and after the intervention period.

In UNI, one-repetition maximum (1-RM) strength improved in both the trained (∆ = 2.0 ± 0.9 kg) and non-trained (∆ = 0.8 ± 0.9 kg) arms despite cessation of training of the weaker arm, whereas 1-RM strength was unchanged in Detrain. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction, isokinetic peak torque, and RFD did not change in either group. No neural changes were detected in UNI, but cSP increased in Detrain (∆ = 0.010 ± 0.015 s). CSA_Flexor increased in the trained arm (∆ = 51 ± 43 mm²) but decreased in the non-trained arm (∆ = -53 ± 50 mm²) in UNI. CSA_Flexor decreased in both arms in Detrain and at a similar rate to the non-trained arm in UNI.

UNI attenuated the effects of detraining in the weaker arm as shown by the improvement in 1-RM strength. However, the cross-education of strength did not attenuate the decline in muscle size in the contralateral arm.