Negative Sets! Good or Bad??

[midgetcop]

For some of my lifts I think I focus on the negatives on the last rep just out of habit. Never usually on my heavier compound movements, but if I'm doing my db side raises, or my seated bicep curls I'll hold the weight at the top of the movement and then lower slowly just to really feel the burn. Whether this is making a difference....*shrug*

[midgetcop]

Originally Posted by KetoManiac

how would the negatives be used?

slow negatives during a regular working set?

using a 1 rep max weight (or heavier) and just doing negatives?

failing at say 5 reps then doing a few negatives with the same weight?

For the second option, the problem will be getting that weight up in the first place...makes the workout a bit of a pain if you constantly have to have a spotter getting it up for you.

[mmuscle]

Loads of good advise here. I have been performing negatives quite a lot just recently and have seen some surprising gains.

[mmuscle]

By the way I have been on the Negatives now for a while and am realy seeing substantial gains.

I now highly recomend them :

[Vas85]

Originally Posted by scud

Negatives strengthen the tendons more than they help the muscles

like scud's mentioned, they strengthen the tendons, i would most probably agree with this, but becuase for negatives you can handle the weight load alot higher i think, like in a cheap way, i really think it ruins the tendons into nothing but major pain (unless your doing half your 1rm negatives?).

[Naturalhit]

Negative is the best thing you can do on your repetition. It helps eliminate momentum and adds density to your muscles.

You get a double whammy when you put emphasis on negative. Muscles function is not only to contract but also to hold, stretch, and relax. If you emphasize all of them, then you really are working your muscles.

Check out my write up on Reps. http://www.hitbodybuilding.com/trainingprinciples.htm

Good Luck