Experimental design.
Participants completed 10 wk of unilateral knee extension resistance training. Each leg was randomly assigned in counterbalanced fashion to one of three possible unilateral training conditions: one set of knee extension performed to voluntary failure at 80% of 1RM (80%-1); three sets of knee extension performed to the point of fatigue at 80% of 1RM (80%-3); or three sets performed to the point of fatigue with 30% of 1RM (30%-3). Each participant trained both legs and was therefore assigned to two of the three possible training conditions. Immediately after each training session subjects consumed a source of high-quality protein (PowerBar Protein Plus, 360 kcal, 3.5 g leucine, 30 g protein, 33 g carbohydrate, 11 g fat; Nestle Nutrition, Florham Park, NJ) in conjunction with ∼300 ml of water to standardize the postexercise meal and maximize training adaptations.