The Role of Supervision in Resistance Training; an Exploratory Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• Main Authors: James Fisher (Author), James Steele (Author), Milo Wolf (Author), Patroklos Androulakis Korakakis (Author), Dave Smith (Author), Jürgen Giessing (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association, 2022-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.47206/ijsc.v2i1.101; 2634-2235
• Keywords: 1RM, strength, body composition, performance, function; Sports; GV557-1198.995; Sports medicine; RC1200-1245
• Source: International Journal of Strength and Conditioning, Vol 2, Iss 1 (2022)

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.