Open AccessThe Role of Supervision in Resistance Training; an Exploratory Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Author(s) -
James Fisher,
James Steele,
Milo Wolf,
Patroklos AndroulakisKorakakis,
David J. Smith,
Jürgen Gießing
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international journal of strength and conditioning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2634-2235
DOI - 10.47206/ijsc.v2i1.101
Subject(s) - meta analysis , resistance training , resistance (ecology) , strength training , function (biology) , statistics , medicine , machine learning , physical therapy , psychology , computer science , mathematics , ecology , evolutionary biology , biology
Background: Since many people choose to perform resistance training unsupervised, and a lack of supervision within strength training is reported to result in inadequate workout quality, we aimed to compare outcomes for resistance training with and without supervision. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed for performance/functional outcomes and/or body composition measurements. Results: 12 studies were included in the review; 301 and 276 participants were in supervised and unsupervised groups, respectively. The main model for all performance/function effects revealed a small, standardised point estimate favouring SUP (0.28 [95%CI = 0.02 to 0.55]). For sub-grouped outcome types, there was very poor precision of robust estimates for speed, power, function, and endurance. However, for strength there was a moderate effect favouring SUP (0.40 [95%CI = 0.06 to 0.74]). The main model for all body composition effects revealed a trivial standardised point estimate favouring SUP (0.07 [95%CI = -0.01 to 0.15]). Conclusions: Supervised resistance training, compared to unsupervised training, might produce a small effect on increases in performance/function, most likely in strength, but has little impact on body composition outcomes.