time under tension

Definition

The total duration a muscle spends under load during a set, often more important than rep count for hypertrophy. The metric that makes a 10-second rep feel like a personal eternity.

Example Usage

My trainer increased my time under tension to 40 seconds per set, and now I understand what 'the burn' really means.

Origin

Popularized in bodybuilding and strength training circles in the 1990s-2000s

Fun Fact

Optimal time under tension for muscle growth is typically 40-70 seconds per set, which is why slow, controlled reps often trump heavy, fast ones for size gains.

Source: Bodybuilding and hypertrophy research literature

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