# “Constant tension “ for hypertrophy

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/constant-tension-for-hypertrophy/11773>\
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [December 13, 2021, 7:40am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/constant-tension-for-hypertrophy/11773 "2021-12-13T07:40:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![EZgains](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/ezgains/32/322_2.png) [@EZgains](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/EZgains)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 7:40am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/constant-tension-for-hypertrophy/11773/1 "2021-12-13T07:40:01Z")

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Just wondering if their is any evidence to this ideology of “keeping constant tension on the muscle”?  
A example would be when bodybuilders tell you, you shouldn’t lockout your elbows during the bench press to keep constant tension on the muscle for “more growth”.

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**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/constant-tension-for-hypertrophy/11773/2 "2021-12-13T18:20:14Z")

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Is there _ANY_ evidence for time under tension playing a role in muscular hypertrophy? Yes, but the totality of the evidence suggests that it’s mostly a function of total volume and _perhaps_ a slowed eccentric (non-ballistic) improving hypertrophy outcomes compared to less volume (big deal) and a faster eccentric (less important IMO).

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**Author:** ![EZgains](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/ezgains/32/322_2.png) [@EZgains](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/EZgains)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/constant-tension-for-hypertrophy/11773/3 "2021-12-13T21:08:45Z")

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So in layman’s terms, in a situation where volume is reduced , tempo work has greater outcomes?

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**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/constant-tension-for-hypertrophy/11773/4 "2021-12-14T16:16:56Z")

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> [@EZgains](#):
>
> So in layman’s terms, in a situation where volume is reduced , tempo work has greater outcomes?

No. I said a slowed eccentric may be better for hypertrophy than a faster one. This assumes that the volume is high enough to grow anyway and is equated across groups.