Muscle Architecture and Maximal Strength between Male Practitioners of Functional Fitness Training and Strength Training.

Functional Fitness Training (FFT) is a very popular training method in recent years. However, the combination of aerobic and strength components of this training method raised the hypothesis of impaired strength and muscle structure when compared to Strength Training (ST). Thus, the study aimed to compare muscle architecture and strength between FFT and ST, and the relationship between muscle architecture and maximum strength performance. Males (28.46 ± 6.03 years), nonathletes, and practitioners for two years in FFT (n = 8) and ST (n = 8), in addition to males classified as physically active (n = 8) were recruited. Muscle architecture of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) of the thigh were evaluated with the aid of B-mode ultrasound and maximum strength in the back squat through the one-repetition maximum test. For muscle architecture, the fascicle length (FL), pennation angle (PAn), and muscle thickness (MT) were evaluated, in addition to the cross-sectional area (CSA). The FL, PAn, MT, and CSA of the RF and VL did not differ between the FFT and ST groups. Similarly, maximum strength did not differ between the FFT (152 ± 23.68 kg) and ST (151.88 ± 14.77 kg) groups. A significant relationship was observed between the PAn of the RF and the maximum strength (r =0.862; p =0.006) of FFT practitioners. The muscle architecture, CSA, and muscle strength do not differ between FFT and ST male practitioners, and PAn of the RF correlates with the maximum force for FFT practitioners.