Inter‑individual variability in strength adaptations to a 12‑week standardized resistance‑training program: A pilot study

Amedovski, Haris and Arsovski, Denis and Amedovski, Armin (2026) Inter‑individual variability in strength adaptations to a 12‑week standardized resistance‑training program: A pilot study. Croatian sports medicine journal, 41 (1). pp. 31-40. ISSN 1848-7742

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Abstract

Inter-individual variability in adaptations to resistance training is a well-documented and expected phenomenon, particularly in previously untrained individuals. Consequently, the present investigation was conceived as a pilot study, with the primary aim of characterizing the magnitude and pattern of individual strength responses under tightly standardized training and nutritional conditions. Five healthy adults with no previous exposure to structured resistance training - three males and two females from 25 to 30 years with an average body mass index of 25 participated in this research. The training program consisted of four weekly sessions with an upper/lower body split, performed on commercial machines and free weights. All sessions were supervised by the same researcher to minimize execution-related variability. Additionally, all participants adhered to a eucaloric diet with a standardized protein intake (1.8 g/kg body mass) to reduce potential nutritional confounding. Muscular strength was assessed with six-repetition maximum (6RM) testing across 11 exercises at baseline and after 12 weeks of training. As anticipated, all participants exhibited meaningful increases in strength; however, the magnitude of these improvements differed substantially between individuals. Notably, inter-individual variability was most pronounced in single-joint isolation exercises, whereas compound lowerbody movements demonstrated more homogeneous strength gains across participants. As a pilot investigation, the present results provide a detailed descriptive foundation for future studies aiming to explore mechanistic determinants of individual responsiveness using larger samples and inferential designs.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Scientific Fields (Frascati) > Medical and Health Sciences > Health sciences Scientific Fields (Frascati) > Medical and Health Sciences > Other medical sciences
Divisions:	Higher Medical School
Depositing User:	MSc Denis Arsovski
Date Deposited:	07 Jul 2026 10:54
Last Modified:	07 Jul 2026 10:54
URI:	https://eprints.uklo.edu.mk/id/eprint/11663

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