Paralympic Powerlifting is a discipline where maximal strength, training precision, and fatigue management are fundamental. In this context, choosing between traditional or eccentric strength training is not just a methodological decision, each approach triggers different physiological responses that can influence performance, recovery, and injury risk.

A recent study published in Scientific Reports by de Souza Leite Júnior et al. (2025) analyzed the acute effects of both training methods on Paralympic Powerlifting athletes. The researchers measured three key variables: maximum isometric strength, muscle activation via EMG, and skin temperature, the latter captured using infrared thermography.

The findings not only improve our understanding of how different stimuli affect the neuromuscular system, but also reinforce the value of thermography as an objective tool for monitoring fatigue and training load.

Study Design: Two Methods, One Movement

Twelve male Paralympic Powerlifting athletes completed two training sessions on separate weeks:

• Traditional Training (TT): 5×5 at 80% 1RM (same load in concentric and eccentric phases).
• Eccentric Training (ET): 80% 1RM concentrically and 110% eccentrically.

Measurements of isometric force, time to peak force, and skin temperature were taken before, immediately after, 24 h post, and 48 h post exercise. EMG was recorded during the last set of each protocol in the pectoralis major (clavicular and sternal portions), anterior deltoid, and triceps brachii.

Infrared thermography was used to examine thermal changes in the trunk and upper limb regions most involved in the bench press.

Key Findings

1. Maximum Isometric Strength (MIF)

Both training methods maintained strength levels immediately after the session. However, at 48 hours, clear differences emerged:

• Higher MIF after traditional training, indicating more efficient recovery.The eccentric session produced a greater decrease in MIF, reflecting higher residual fatigue.

This supports the idea that eccentric loading, while effective, requires longer recovery windows.

2. Skin Temperature Responses

Thermography provided some of the most insightful results:

• Both TT and ET produced significant increases in skin temperature after training.
• The eccentric protocol showed a greater thermal increase, especially in:
  • Pectoralis major (clavicular region)
  • Anterior deltoid
  • Triceps brachii

These patterns suggest greater local physiological stress and increased metabolic demand after eccentric work.

3. Muscle Activation (EMG)

Overall EMG data did not reveal significant differences between the two methods. Even so, the eccentric protocol showed slightly higher activation tendencies in key bench-press muscles.

This indicates that eccentric overload may demand greater neuromuscular recruitment, even if differences were not statistically significant.

Interpreting the Thermal Patterns

Thermography enables objective visualization of localized muscle stress. According to the study:

• Eccentric training produces more pronounced thermal responses, consistent with higher mechanical tension and tissue stress.
• Thermal changes can serve as a direct, non-invasive indicator of localized fatigue.
• Tracking temperature evolution over 24–48 h provides valuable information about recovery dynamics.

In a sport where upper-body loading is extremely concentrated, as in Paralympic Powerlifting, these insights are especially valuable.

Practical Applications

For strength and conditioning coaches

• Periodize eccentric sessions carefully, especially during high-intensity microcycles.Use thermography to identify hotspots of increased load following strength training.
• Individualize recovery strategies based on objective thermal stress indicators.

For physiotherapists and return-to-play specialists

• Detect hyperthermal regions that may signal overload.
• Monitor thermal evolution during rehab or training blocks to prevent excessive strain.
• Use thermographic data to complement clinical assessments and objective progress markers.

Conclusions

Eccentric training induces greater muscle activation and a stronger skin temperature response, reflecting higher local fatigue and physiological stress. Traditional training, in contrast, allows for faster strength recovery within 48 hours.

Infrared thermography strengthens its role as a valuable tool for monitoring training impact, helping differentiate how various stimuli affect muscle stress and recovery.

Both methods are effective, but eccentric loading creates a heavier local demand, and thermography is key to understanding and monitoring that impact.

Reference:

• de Souza Leite Júnior, J. A., Aidar, F. J., Menezes, J. L., de Almeida-Neto, P. F., Cabral, B. G. D. A. T., Silva, A. F., ... & Alghannam, A. F. (2025). Evaluation of strength, skin temperature and muscle activation in traditional and eccentric training in Paralympic Powerlifting athletes. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 25900.