Evidence Hub

Task Specificity of Dynamic Resistance Training and Its Transferability to Non-trained Isometric Muscle Strength: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis

A. Saeterbakken, N. Stien, Gøran Paulsen, D. Behm, V. Andersen, T. E. Solstad, Olaf Prieske

Sports Medicine, 2025

1,660 participants · 17 citations

Abstract

Resistance training (RT) specificity has been confirmed for movement patterns (e.g., multi-joint or single joint), movement velocities, ranges of motion, and contraction types (e.g., dynamic vs isometric). However, a systematic analysis of the effects of dynamic mass-loaded (e.g., isoinertial) RT on dynamic versus isometric strength tests is lacking. We aimed to examine the specific effects of dynamic RT on dynamic (isoinertial) versus isometric muscle strength, including possible moderating factors (e.g., training length, single joint and multi-joint, upper body and lower body, RT status) and mechanisms (e.g., hypertrophy, muscle activation). A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (EBSCO), Web of Science, and Scopus up to March 2024. The included interventions contained at least ten training sessions, both dynamic and isometric muscle strength assessments before and after the training period, and healthy participants aged 16–60 years (encompassing untrained and trained individuals). Advanced RT approaches, such as electrical stimulation, isokinetic training, velocity-based training, and blood flow restriction training, were excluded. Within-subject, weighted standardized mean differences (SMDs) of the pre-intervention to post-intervention tests were calculated for both dynamic and isometric muscle strength measures using a random-effects model. Univariate sub-group analyses of RT status, intervention length, complexity (i.e., single-joint or multi-joint…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,660 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free