Lifting and curling exercises without weights

So I remember reading about a study a couple of years ago where they compared the results of doing regular strength training (using weights) versus a version with the same exercises but without any weights at all. Instead participants were told to "just imagine" doing them, in a form of image training while also flexing their muscles as though they were actually lifting something.
From what I can remember the results of the study either showed that the two forms of training were on par in terms of their outcome or that the latter was actually more effective. While this seems counterintuitive at first, I guess it kinda makes sense. After all, what leads to hypertrophy is using the muscles. Whether you actually lift anything in the process or "merely" flex them to flex them, the actual usage would be similar or even the same, right?

Does anyone know what I am talking about? I tried using Google to find the study in question but either it's too obscure or I suck at searching since all that comes up in the first couple of pages is tutorials on workouts without weights (bodyweight shit and such). It might've been done by a German university, at least that's where I remember hearing about it.

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  1. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    >"study"

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      Yes, anon, biomechanics is a thing.

      • 2 years ago
        Anonymous

        Chemistry is also a thing

        • 2 years ago
          Anonymous

          Your point being? Do you think weights are magical items that somehow change your body's chemistry in a way that engaging your muscles without them does not?

          • 2 years ago
            Anonymous

            >Your point being
            My question to you dumb c**t
            Go on, lift your imaginary weights and see how far you get. I don't give a frick if you're dyel forever chasing pseud work outs.

            • 2 years ago
              Anonymous

              Why so angry, anon? I'm not even saying this works, I've never tried it, I was just wondering if anyone else had heard about it. Again, intuitively it seems strange but when thinking about it I don't see why it wouldn't work. The muscles get used either way. The only downside that I can think of is that you might not be able to consciously engage all muscle groups that using an actual weight would (involuntarily/unconsciously) stimulate. But that's about it.

  2. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    >not doing both
    ngmi

  3. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    So ... I guess no one else here has heard about this research?

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      What fricking research?
      I can find plenty of studies and reasearch proving healing crystals work. Doesn't mean they do.

      • 2 years ago
        Anonymous

        >I can find plenty of studies and reasearch proving healing crystals work.
        You can?

        >Doesn't mean they do.
        Well, if there isn't any research indicating the contrary then they just might ...

        Also, how is this in any way comparable? You'd still be exercising your muscles this way, just not by actually doing anything other than flexing them.

        • 2 years ago
          Anonymous

          Point being anyone can bullshit a piece of research.
          To find out why OP is a complete idiot, sit down and flex your bicep as hard as you can. Then try a bicep curl while using the other hand as resistance. You now understand why RESISTANCE training is leagues better than just tensing muscles.

          • 2 years ago
            Anonymous

            When actually trying to imitate the latter I feel not much difference when doing the former. Guess I'm a "complete idiot".

            • 2 years ago
              Anonymous

              >Guess I'm a "complete idiot".
              It's very noble of you to be willing to admit that.

              • 2 years ago
                Anonymous

                Kind of you to say so.

  4. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    >curling nothing is exactly the same, if not better, than curling weights
    >i cant find this research, can anybody else?
    whats next? eating imaginary food is just as good, if not better, than eating actual food?

  5. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    You can't voluntarily break your muscle fiber down enough to cause super compensation any more than my daughter can voluntarily hold her breath until she passes out so I'll buy her something. There has to be an external force.

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      Sure you can. Why wouldn't you be able to? Ever heard of cramps? Those can0" break your muscle fiber down" more than any weight you could even lift in the first place. All just by straining them against ... nothing.

      • 2 years ago
        Anonymous

        A cramp is harmless in itself. Unless it causes you to jump off a bridge it won't do anything and if it doesn't cause you to do a max effort squat set you're not gonna see any gains.

        • 2 years ago
          Anonymous

          >A cramp is harmless in itself.
          Anon, what the frick are you on about? Of course they can be harmful. A strong enough cramp can even lead to muscle tears in extreme cases.

          >If a muscle cramp is sufficiently forcible, it can lead to actual tears in some of the muscles fibers.
          >https://warrclinic.co.uk/muscle-spasm-muscle-cramp-muscle-strain-whats-the-difference-it-hurts/

          >A bout of severe leg cramp may cause damage to the muscle. Fibres of the muscle are torn due to the shear force of the involuntary contraction causing a calf strain.
          >https://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/lower-leg/calf-pain/cramp-calf-muscles

          • 2 years ago
            Anonymous

            Okay, I'll concede that if you're an animal strapped to a table for an academic study to observe what happens when you don't stretch a cramping muscle that you might get hurt.

            • 2 years ago
              Anonymous

              Better yet: Concede that you're a moron who simply didn't know what he was talking about.

              If we take some of the most extreme examples of muscle cramps, e.g. the ones presenting in the later stages of a tetanus infection, they can be so severe that, again, muscles tear or even bones break. Fpr instance, apparently something like half of all cases involve spinal fractures from the spasms that lead to the typical 'arching' position as seen in picrel (or take a gander over to Google Images for IRL examples).

              Yes, your average charley horse isn't gonna cause muscle tears. But muscle cramps in general can undoubtedly do so in extreme cases.

  6. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Both may attain similar results in terms of muscular hypertrophy.

    But lifting heavy isn't about only muscle tissue, it's about mapping the neural pathways in your body to withstand extreme stress and execute smooth muscle movements.

    Your muscles might look nice, but you will have zero functional strength and less endurance than someone who exclusively trains calisthenics

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      >zero functional strength
      >zero
      I wonder.

      The difference might not actually be as large as you imagined. Something could indeed be said about practicing the motion with an actual weight but in the study in question, from what I remember, the exercises were the same in terms of form so perhaps even that wouldn't make such a difference.

      • 2 years ago
        Anonymous

        >From what I remember
        You'd make a more convincing arguement saying you discovered it in a dream.

        • 2 years ago
          Anonymous

          Nah, I'm quite sure this was real since I remember where I heard it first (on a certain radio station). The problem is that the identifying details are hazy in my mind. Like where/by whom it was conducted for example. I think it may have been in Germany (although that might just be because it's where I've heard it) which would also explain why I'm having trouble finding it now on Google, using the search terms I'm using.

          • 2 years ago
            Anonymous

            >quite sure
            >radio station
            >hazy
            >I think
            >it may
            >that might
            >I'm having trouble finding it now on Google
            Brimming with confidence anon. I am now assured that you know what you're talking about.
            You do realise there are machines that force your muscles to contract by electric jolts in order to strengthen them? They use it for those with mobility issues who can't train using conventional methods. Main factor here is that it's literally a last resort to prevent atrophy and is inferior to normal training in every aspect.
            And now you're trying to tell me that contracting your muscles yourself, with out assistance, is somehow better than conventional training.
            Because you may or may not have heard some cabbage Black person mention it on the radio.
            Take your meds and frick off.

  7. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Okay so cramps in themselves do nothing but if you die from tetanus you can get muscle damage. Got it. I think I'll just lift weights.

  8. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Yeah, I recall reading about this. Placebos are effective but we also have a crisis in that a lot of studies can't be replicated. It's cool if you want to try it yourself and report back. Take thorough notes if you do.
    Pic unrelated, or is it?

  9. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    [...]

    >genuinely curious why you are willing to die on this pile of horseshit.
    I'm not. While I definitely haven't presented any concrete evidence of this being true (seeing how I made this thread to see if anyone also knows about it), I am simply not convinced by the objections raised so far that claim this makes no sense even in principle.

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