DC Method: Drop Set VS Static Hold

[mtellin]

Been doing the DC method for awhile now, and getting some pretty amazing results..but had a question.

Recently I switched from doing static holds to doing a drop set on everything...anyone have any comments on that? Bad idea? Worth a shot? Ive noticed since doing it this way I feel much more "fatigued" at the end of the workout. Here is what Ive been doing for chest

2 warm up sets
work set to failure 3 times as normal, then immediately drop the weight down (usually to the warm up set weight) and just rep out with extremely slow movements.

Like I said just looking for some input on this switch, anyone else tried anything like this? Seem like it would/wouldnt work very well?

 

[Him1]

I like rest-pausing with the same weight, b/c, just like Dc would probably say, you end up getting 12-15 reps w/ what your body only should have gotten 7-8. Hence, an increase in strength.

 

[blinddeafmute]

work set to failure 3 times as normal,

Are you doing 3 worksets? If so you are doing too much on DC. Only do 1 workset.

I used dropsets in a 3 day split and loved them. Nothing made my muscles burn more. My quads were getting very good results, but nothing else was reacting to them.

I havent tried them with DC though. I just started DC this week and its got me pumped.

 

[mtellin]

I like rest-pausing with the same weight, b/c, just like Dc would probably say, you end up getting 12-15 reps w/ what your body only should have gotten 7-8. Hence, an increase in strength.

right, think there might be some confusion, I still RP with the same weight, i usually hit 10-3-2 RP with the same weight on my work set, what I changed is instead of doing a static hold after that, i immediately drop the weight and just rep out and get a much better burn in my muscles

 

[mtellin]

Are you doing 3 worksets? If so you are doing too much on DC. Only do 1 workset.

I used dropsets in a 3 day split and loved them. Nothing made my muscles burn more. My quads were getting very good results, but nothing else was reacting to them.

I havent tried them with DC though. I just started DC this week and its got me pumped.

no..heh always have a hard time explaining, doing everything else as normal, IE workset to failure, 12 breaths, workset to failure 12 breaths workset to failure

 

[casualbb]

I don't do DC, but let me tell you -- from a muscular perspective, the dropsets accomplish the same thing as static holds. Don't go to failure on them, though, to avoid unnecessary fatigue.

This has been discussed before, the whole sarcoplasmic vs. sarcomere hypertrophy issue. How is this related to dropsets? Well, it's been shown that when you're working prodominantly in the low-rep range, you don't get much sarcoplasmic hypertrophy because the cell metabolism isn't stressed. The addition of drop sets after a low-rep set can facilitate more sarcomere growth -- the functional type. Although nobody ever explained to me why the static holds are done, this is a potential reason. Although the reps are high enough anyway that you don't need them. They only become really helpful when you go down to around 5 reps.

-casualbb