VARS Data

While resistance training promotes muscle hypertrophy, accessibility of equipment is a barrier. This study evaluated a wearable VAriable Resistance Suit (VARS) as a novel and alternative method to achieve muscle hypertrophy. It was hypothesized that by providing adjustable, bi-directional and speed dependent resistance, VARS can target specific muscles to improve muscle strength, size and mass in an accessible and portable device. Twelve untrained healthy male adults (22.08 ± 4.1 years old) participated in a 8-week long resistance training using VARS to strengthen four muscles (biceps brachii, triceps brachii, biceps femoris, rectus femoris) of their non-dominant arm and leg using VARS. The results showed significant improvements in the muscle strength measured by isokinetic dynamometer – 49.9±9.6% increase in isokinetic force and 30.6±7.6% increase in isometric force. Muscle size and body composition were also assessed using ultrasound imaging and bioelectrical impedance analysis, revealing moderate improvements but they did not reach statistically significant differences. The study demonstrates the efficacy and feasibility of VARS as a resistance training tool to achieve muscle hypertrophy and its potential extension to clinical populations to treat muscle atrophy, dystrophy or sarcopenia.

虽然抗阻训练可促进肌肉肥大，但设备的可获得性构成了一个障碍。本研究评估了一种可穿戴的变量抗阻服（VARS）作为一种新颖且替代的方法来实现肌肉肥大。假设通过提供可调节的、双向的且与速度相关的抗阻，VARS能够针对特定肌肉以提升肌肉力量、体积和质量，并通过一种易于获取且便携的设备实现。十二名未经训练的健康成年男性（年龄中位数为22.08±4.1岁）参与了为期8周的VARS抗阻训练，旨在强化他们非优势手臂和腿部的四块肌肉（肱二头肌、肱三头肌、股二头肌、股直肌）。结果显示，通过等速测力计测量的肌肉力量显著提高——等速力量提升了49.9±9.6%，等长力量提升了30.6±7.6%。此外，还利用超声波成像和生物电阻抗分析评估了肌肉大小和身体成分，结果显示有中度改善，但未达到统计学上的显著差异。该研究证明了VARS作为一种抗阻训练工具在实现肌肉肥大方面的有效性和可行性，并展示了其在临床人群中治疗肌肉萎缩、肌营养不良或肌肉减少症等疾病的潜在应用。