What does time-under-tension measure in resistance training?

What does time-under-tension measure in resistance training?

• A. The total time the muscle is under tension per set
• B. The total reps completed
• C. The duration of rest between sets
• D. The velocity of movement

Answer: (A)

Time under tension is the total duration that a muscle remains under load during a set. It includes the time from the start of the first rep through the end of the last rep, incorporating both the lowering (eccentric) and lifting (concentric) phases and any pauses where the muscle stays under tension. Because it measures how long the muscle is actively resisting the weight, it directly captures the stimulus duration of a set. It’s not about how many reps you perform (that’s volume), nor about rest between sets, nor about how fast you move (velocity). In practice, altering tempo or adding pauses changes the time the muscle is under tension, influencing the training effect.

Time under tension is the total duration that a muscle remains under load during a set. It includes the time from the start of the first rep through the end of the last rep, incorporating both the lowering (eccentric) and lifting (concentric) phases and any pauses where the muscle stays under tension. Because it measures how long the muscle is actively resisting the weight, it directly captures the stimulus duration of a set. It’s not about how many reps you perform (that’s volume), nor about rest between sets, nor about how fast you move (velocity). In practice, altering tempo or adding pauses changes the time the muscle is under tension, influencing the training effect.