working through a full range of motion
(ROM) on every exercise. That meant
lowering your butt as close to the f loor as
possible on squats, and fully straightening
your elbows after every biceps curl. It’s how
most guys train in the gym – and yes, you
should still be doing full-range exercises
in every workout.
But learning how to properly use a
limited range of motion can take your
strength to the next level. Think about that
biceps curl: when your arm is fully
straightened, your biceps isn’t being
challenged by the dumbbell, and it’s not
really being challenged at the top of the
movement either, when it’s near your
shoulder. “You’re not overloading the
muscle through much of the exercise,” says
veteran trainer Nick Tumminello.
Butwhenyourelbowisbent90°,the
weight typically feels heaviest because
yourbicepsisatamechanical
disadvantage. And that’s when your
muscles are working the hardest.
“Overcoming this will increase
performance and strength through the full
range of motion,” Tumminello says.
Reps using a more limited range of
motion are called partials. With these, youGET STRONGER AND STAY
HEALTHIER BY MIXING PARTIAL
REPS INTO YOUR WORKOUTSSmall Moves,
Big Gains
skip the easy parts of an exercise and focus
on the most challenging portions,
eventually making it easier to get through
the sticking point. And you can use a
heavier dumbbell than you normally would
on a biceps curl, which can trigger arm
growth. “Adding more volume results in
greater hypertrophy,” says strength
mechanics expert Caleb Bayzler. In plain
English, that means a stronger you.
Partials also help armour-plate your
body. Training in your weakest range of
motion even with light weights (think of
lifting a barbell centimetres off your torso
while benching) strengthens that weak
area, which is often where injuries occur.
S o it ’s a sm a r t a nd s e n sible pl ay a s we l l a s
an effective one.
If lunging makes your knee hurt, try an
isometric Bulgarian split squat: with your
back foot on a bench, lower your torso until
your front thigh is parallel to the f loor, and
hold for a few seconds. You’re not moving,
but you are strengthening your knee.
“There’s a 15- to 20° carryover above and
below the range of motion you’re staying
i n,” s ay s Tony G e nt i lcore of C ore F it ne s s.
It’s all worth carrying into your next
workout. Here’s how.WHAT IF YOU could add muscle and power
to you r leg s w it hout st r ug g l i ng t h roug h
those painful (and often risky) “arse-to-
g ra s s” s qu at s pu she d by m a ny t ra i ne r s?
Well, a recent Journal of Strength and
Conditioning Research study likes that
idea: the study participants did full squats
at first, and then one group did partial
squats as a second exercise while another
kept doing full squats, going as low as
possible. Which group added more lower-
body power and strength? The partial
squatters. This range-of-motion revolution
promises to help you build cannon ball
arms, sturdy legs and a strong back. For
years, science (both bro and real) endorsedBY K. ALEISHA FETTERS
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