Static Contraction and Power Factor Training

[churchy77]

Has anyone in here tried the "high intensity" lifting programs developed by Pete Sisco, they are called:
-Static Contraction Training-where you lift and hold the most weight in your strongest ROM for about 15-20 seconds per bodypart 1X per week or so, its like a 10 minute workout 2 days per week, but has progressive overload built into it
-Power Factor Training-with this one you lift highest weight you can through only about 1/5 of the ROM (the strongest portion) for about 12 reps, 1-2 sets per bodypart per week, once again with progressive overload and progressively increased rest/recovery time

I am just wondering if anyone has tried it and the results, etc
It seems to make some physiological sense in that it incorporates progressive overload and it has sig recuperation time, also sposed to be less injury prone (less stress on tendons, joints, etc)
But mainly I want to know if it is effective?????????????

 

[casualbb]

it's full of shit.

not only does it make no sense from a scientific standpoint, everyone who did it, myself included, had no results

 

[Madcow2]

There's a whole little recent discussion at Meso with some quality input and a lot of references and science. If you are interested, it's worth your read. I'll just copy over post #22 because that's basically how I feel about some of the points raised (plus it's moderately funny and I like to share).

http://forum.mesomorphosis.com/showthread.php?t=134235799

A lot of them seem to work hard at coming up with neat analogies and interesting logic to support their programs. Of course, it would really help if there was a foundation of science or some correlation to how the body works. I see so much from the BBing community that is just pure unsupported rhetoric. It's like Joe Schmoe at the gym invents himself some baseless theory and spent a year coming up with enough cute quips, words, and analogies to support it.


Random New Theory: "Being dumb will make you huge"

-A stereotypical geeky smart guy is frequently portrayed as skinny guy with glasses. Being smart doesn't help him be big - it hurts him.

-Very developed bodybuilders are often refered to as muscleheads and this is generally equated with being dumb.

-The biggest guy at 24Hour Joe's in a remote suberb of Boise ID, tested out at an 85 IQ after drinking heavily one night.

-XYZ Mr. Olympia made the best gains of his life using 10g of test a week. He's told me that the biggest reason for his success was because he got even dumber this year. Lot's of other really dumb guys agree.

-If one carefully considers the logic of all of this, it is obvious that all of this exercise science and training is just so much crap. While all those scientists have toiled away years of their life working with elite athletes, performing studies, and educating themselves, in 2 hours over a 6 pack I've stumbled onto the holy gail and everything else is a waste or a hell of a lot more inefficient. The quickest way to getting big is to first get dumb. I've used this on all my clients over the years, just randomly slapping them upside the head with a 10 pounder every now and then when they aren't expecting it and it's the bomb and they all agree. Whoopee. Don't listen to what anyone else says, they might sound smart but the truth is, they aren't dumb enough yet and are just frustrated at their own progress. Follow my way and soon you'll be huge and dumb or at least too stupid to realize you aren't. Now go forth and spread the word of dumb training like the gospel and jihad to anyone who doesn't agree.

 

[rbtrout]

They are nice theories, but......
I've read the Static Contraction Training book and tried it for about 6 weeks with a friend. Neither of us found any gains in size or strength.

 

[d-bolnh]

Just my 2 cents...I tried powerfactor training for about 7 months after a friend of mine emailed me a copy of the ebook. I was also started a cycle of m1t and sust 250 at the same time. Probably not the best way to test either the cycle or the training. I did get bigger, added about 23 pounds during 12 weeks. I went from 175 to 193lbs. I did get stronger, bench went from 215 to 335 partial reps. This wasn't my first cycle and I had been training the m-w-f routine for about 2 years. Trust me, I'm about as hardgainer as you can get. All I can say for sure is that the gains really don't translate to full rom excersises. I'm back to the m-w-f full rom routines but I still incorperate a few heavy paritials into it for the cns benefit.

 

[dgatehouse]

I'm going to agree with the masses. I tried this like a year and a half ago for three months. I really wanted it to work, it doesn't. It's a piece of crap workout that didn't do anything but give me joint pain from the weight. The only real workout I got was from putting the weight on the bar.

 

[dgatehouse]

I'm going to agree with the masses. I tried this like a year and a half ago for three months. I really wanted it to work, it doesn't. It's a piece of crap workout that didn't do anything but give me joint pain from the weight. The only real workout I got was from putting the weight on the bar.

 

[bassman]

I tried it for about 6 months with no gains, just a few injuries from the extreme amount of weight I was using, mostly tendon and joint injuries. Complete waste of time and money.

 

[d-bolnh]

Joint pain was the deciding factor to quit the pft program for me. Sisco advocates using all machines since this is the safest way to handle huge amounts of weight. Unfortunately my shoulders and knees couldn't handle that kind of weight, even on machines. I used his online trainer called "mystrenthcoach.com". That stupid thing kept bumping the weight up 10 to 20% every week. That was fine while I was still on a cycle but while coming off, it was impossible. I think there's some practicle application for it if you incorperate some of the concept into a routine that uses a little more common sense.

Steve Holman and John Lawson of Ironman magazine promote/advocate a similar program called x-reps. Has anyone used or heard anything good about that program?

 

[bassman]

I used his online trainer called "mystrenthcoach.com". That stupid thing kept bumping the weight up 10 to 20% every week.

I used that stupid thing too. Once I decided it was a complete waste of time and decided to cancel my membership I had to do battle with Peter and his moron staff for 3 months to get them to stop taking money out of my account.

One thing I noticed about Peter's wonderful program is that I could not find ONE person that uses it, likes it and has before and after pictures to show thier progress. I couldn't even find a picture of Peter, nor would he send me one.