Feeder Workouts for Arms: Do They Work?

| by Truth Seeker |

source: pexels.com

FAQ: What are feeder workouts?

Feeder workouts are frequent pump training sessions designed to massively accelerated the hypertrophy of a specific body part. The modern originator of the feeder template is Rich Piana who uploaded several videos on the subject.

According to Rich, feeder workouts should be done the day after a hard training session to nourish the hit muscle group with “fresh nutrients” and speed up the recovery process.

Since the purpose of a feeder workout isn’t to tear the muscle tissue but to fill it with blood, the lifter is advised to use very light weights for very high reps.

For arms, Piana recommended doing 3 supersets of 100 reps. Or in simpler terms, the lifter is advised to do 100 reps for biceps, 100 for triceps and then repeat the entire sequence two more times.

The Science Behind Feeder Workouts

Let’s start with two basic ideas that have been circulating in the world of muscle construction for a long time.

1. Heavy Weights Build the Contractile Proteins

Actin and myosin are the two contractile proteins responsible for muscular contraction. Myosin is the thick filament and the engine whereas actin is the thin filament that just goes along for the ride. During a muscle contraction, the myosin filaments pull the actin by binding to it.

Myofibrillar hypertrophy a.k.a. functional hypertrophy represents an increase of contractile proteins (actin and myosin). People call it functional because it directly contributes to strength/force production.

For myofibrillar hypertrophy to manifest, the muscle has to face a serious challenge that cannot come from light loads.

2. High Reps with Light Weights Result in Sarcoplasmic Hypertrophy

The term sarcoplasmic hypertrophy refers to growth of the sarcoplasm – the internal liquid environment of the muscle cell.

It’s been said that light weights (low-intensity loads) lifted for a great number of sets & reps (high volume) amplify the muscle cell fluid by building up the mitochondria (the cellular power plants) and the capillaries (small blood vessels). As a result, the muscle gets bigger thanks to its increased ability to store glycogen (glucose-based energy reserves) but without developing the capacity to generate more tension.

The promoters of functional training relied on the two notions above to paint powerlifters (strength athletes) as functional and bodybuilders (posers) as non-functional fluff-powered men.

Why? As I explained in the last article on 5×5 training, the advocates of strength training played the role of the good cop and seemingly united with the average consumer by criticizing mainstream bodybuilding and endorsing “real man” training such as powerlifting.

The idea of sarcoplasmic hypertrophy was part of the marketing strategy. To increase the feeling of superiority within the average “wiry” brah, bodybuilders’ muscles had to become “all show and no go”.

It worked. To this very day, many people still think that bodybuilders have fake muscles.

What’s the truth?

Myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic hypertrophy are a duo that works together. Even if a man wanted to build his entire body with “fluff” training and enjoy muscles made of “non-functional jell-o”, it would be impossible since the size of the myofibril (contractible fibre) limits the sarcoplasm within the cell.

Therefore, sooner or later, even the “sarcoplasmic lifter” will have to up the weight to maximize sarcoplasmic hypertrophy. That increase will trigger unavoidable myofibrillar hypertrophy.

In other words, sarcoplasmic hypertrophy is dependent on myofibrillar hypertrophy. One cannot develop 20-inch arms made of glycogen and pumped up blood vessels.

Or in even simpler terms – more meat = more veins.

“But bodybuilders are weak. Powerlifters are strong,” screams the dreamer.

Many natty dreamers still believe that they can grow huge muscles by training like “pure” powerlifters who either don’t take steroids at all or inject “a little bit only before the competitions”.

Here’s the truth.

Powerlifters are failed bodybuilders who don’t diet. The powerlifters in the heavyweight divisions are carrying more muscle mass than many bodybuilders on steroids. How do you think that happens? It’s not the squats.

The answer is trivial – they take drugs too, a lot of them. Many powerlifters are just bodybuilders who do the big three (squat, bench, dead) and peak (max out) occasionally. This certainly was the case at the underground powerlifting gym where I trained a long time ago.

The Positive Effects of Feeder Workouts on Hypertrophy

Feeder workouts cannot directly elicit myofibrillar hypertrophy because the weights are too light. Adults cannot build big arms by curling 10lbs forever.

Sure. Roid users can gain muscle mass without training, but even guys on drugs face limits and focus on progression to maximize their gains.

So, what are the positive effects of feeder workouts?

1. Improved Density of the Capillaries

Heavy strength training with low reps and long rest periods does not improve one’s capillary density and efficiency. According to Tesch et. al (1984) and Kadi et al. (1999), Olympic weightlifters and powerlifters who never bother with pump training have lower capillary density than people who don’t even lift.

This happens because low-rep strength training increases the size of the muscle but does little for the skeletal muscle capillarization. As a result, the number of capillaries per fibre decreases.

Bodybuilders do not have this problem as they tend to train with higher reps and often do pump exercises.

Endurance training does not stimulate appreciable or any hypertrophy in some cases, but it has a profound effect on the capillary system. Feeder workouts are also a form of endurance training since they are done for very high reps. (100).

Therefore, one of the benefits of Piana’s feeder protocol is superior capillary density.

What is the role of muscle capillarization? The capillary system delivers oxygen and nutrients to the muscle groups working hard. The greater the capillary density, the greater the exercise capacity of the muscles involved in the movement.

Does this mean more growth?

Maybe.

A study from 1995 performed in London examined the role of metabolites (intermediate or end products of metabolism) in strength training.

Seven people performed isometric contractions three times a week for 14 weeks. The right leg was trained with four sets of 10s contractions lasting 3 seconds. The rest between the sets was 2 minutes.

The left leg was trained with four much longer contractions lasting 30 seconds. The rest between each contraction was 2 minutes.

The cross-sectional area of the leg doing long contractions increased significantly in comparison to the other leg. The longer contraction protocol resulted in bigger metabolite changes too.

One of the study’s conclusions was that greater exposure to metabolites is somehow linked to larger increases in isometric strength and muscle hypertrophy.

The increased vascularization from pump routines such as Piana’s feeders results in a larger quantity of metabolites and growth factors (naturally occurring substances capable of stimulating cellular growth) reaching the muscle under fire. The final outcome is a more anabolic state.

However, if those additional stimulators have nothing to repair (the muscle isn’t damaged), the only side effect is amplified blood supply to the area and greater capillary density.

For that reason, feeders are done after a heavier workout capable of inducing myofibrillar hypertrophy.

2. Improved Mind-Muscle Connection

Feeder/pump workouts can be a useful tool to teach a lifter how to recruit a certain muscle group during an exercise. For instance, an individual who cannot do many pull-ups may have a hard time feeling the lats engage during the exercise because he/she is busy muscling his/hers way up by any means necessary (survival mode). Conversely, high-rep sets of lat pull-downs would pump up the lats of the lifter and improve muscle control.

3. Joint Health

Connective tissues (tendons and ligaments) have very poor blood supply responsible for their slow recuperation. Hence why some experts recommend doing high-rep work to boost the blood circulation of a joint and speed up its recovery.

While this technique is helpful, it should be implemented only with exercises that do not irritate the tendons and ligaments. For example, if a form of skull-crushers hurts your elbows, doing it frequently and for high reps may cause further irritation and discomfort rather than healing.

The Final Answer

Do feeder workouts for arms work?

The principle behind feeder workouts is logical. First, you train the contractile proteins of a muscle; the next day you pump the muscle with blood to improve its recovery and capillary density.

However, one cannot conclude that feeders are magical because the hard workouts before the feeder day are still the growth engine.

In addition, the lifters doing pump sets during their regular sessions are already improving their capillary density even without the feeder workouts.

In short, feeder workouts offer a boost, but they are no replacement for regular resistance training nor can they work on their own unless the goal is increased capillarization.

What is the best way to increase arm size?

If arm size is the goal, it has to be pursued directly by focusing on basic exercises that hit the arms hard.

Here’s an example list – biceps curls, hammer curls, dips, close grip bench presses and overhead triceps extension for the long head of the triceps.

Doing similar exercises and treating them with respect like main lifts (e.g., squats, deadlifts) is the most rational way to stimulate growth of the arm flexors and extensors. Progressive overload is also necessary as it elicits myofibrillar hypertrophy.

As far as frequency is concerned, 2-3 times a week is a middle ground combining great workload and adequate recovery time.

References:

Komi, P., 2008. Strength and Power in Sport. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

Tsatsouline, P., 2011. Beyond Bodybuilding. New York: Dragon Door Publications.

ESCAMILLA, R., FRANCISCO, A., KAYES, A., SPEER, K. and MOORMAN, C., 2002. An electromyographic analysis of sumo and conventional style deadlifts. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 34(4), pp.682-688.

Schott, J., McCully, K. and Rutherford, O., 1995. The role of metabolites in strength training. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 71(4), pp.337-341.

Korthuis, R., 2011. Skeletal Muscle Circulation. San Rafael, Calif.: Morgan & Claypool Life Sciences.

No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

23 comments

  1. GGwat

    Are feeders similar to nucleus overload theory?

    1. Truth Seeker Post author

      I don’t think so. “Nucleus” overload is done with heavier weight I think.

    2. Dave

      Nucleus Overload Training is to work out a specific muscle, everyday, for 30 days.

  2. MB

    How could Rich Piana talk about steroids and drugs while other bodybuilders lie about it?
    PED are illegal in the USA right?

    1. Truth Seeker Post author

      He wasn’t talking about steroids when he was sponsored by Mutant as far as I remember. Later, he started talking about drugs because he was on his own and it was kinda beneficial to him. It separated him from the rest.

      1. MB

        I think it’s weird since steroids are illegal.
        Then he took a risk.

  3. Andy

    Whats the maximum arm size I cen get? My wrist size is 5 inches.

    1. Truth Seeker Post author

      Train your arms hard for 2 years and you’ll know.

      1. Andy

        Brett, I was wrong, my wrists are 6 inch. Whats the maximum arm size I can get?

    2. Brett

      Andy, you have slim bones so dont expect much more than 14 inch arms.

      That can still look good for you frame though.

      1. Andy

        Brett, In a relaxed position, how big can the arm be?

        1. Brett

          Thats hard to say with precision but the arms that look the best in the relaxed postion (side view) are the arms with long muscle bellies.

          If you want to see what those look like just look at pictures of Larry Scott.

          1. Andy

            Brett, wait, how do I know if I have long Muscle bellies?

          2. Simple Simon

            Overhead tricep extensions are dangerous. They place far too much stress on the elbows. Do not do them.

          3. TheFinisher

            So how do you work the long head of your triceps?

      2. TheFinisher

        Why 14 inches? Anyone, no matter what ‘wrist size’ or ‘muscle belly length’ can get big arms with correct training (frequency and volume).

        1. Brett

          First, what is your ‘definition’ of big arms? Most people will say 17 – 18 inches. But very very, very few naturals have the potential to have 17 – 18 inch arms in a lean state.

          Secondly, no a guy with 5 inch wrists (12.7cm) will never even have 16 inch arms (41cm) in a relatively lean state. By lean state I mean flat stomach, no love handles, when you sit down no fat roles.

          Just do the comparison, 12’7 cm and 41 cm. It would actually look very disproportionate.

          Unlocking arm growth does not require ‘special programs and the prefect amount of sets, reps, frequency’.

          1. TheFinisher

            16 inch arms are the limit? really. Pulling numbers out of nothing.

            If workout routine – frequency, sets, reps, rest between sets etc doesn’t contribute to arm size then please tell me what does? I’d love to hear it, I’m guessing like everyone else on here who gets shit results, you’ll blame ‘genetics’.

          2. Kumar

            You need to learn a lot …. There are lot of them …who have 6-7 inches of wrist but have 16-17 inches arms …they are not bodybuilders..neither taking stereoids … Many of my friends also have big arms with almost 6 inch wrist .. so it all depends on your hardwork and diet.. if it doesn’t work for you then it means you don’t have good genetics

      3. Richardiv

        Question, could I combine this kind of training with a 3×5 barbell novice program (e.g. Starting Strength) by doing feeder work outs on off days? I was thinking barbell curls and chin ups on workout days and dumbbell work on off days (I’d like to improve my arm size). Would this compromise or assist recovery?

  4. Andy

    TrueSeeker, If a person is on TRT, does he have to keep doing that treament? Does he loose the gains if he stop using it?

  5. David

    This post is laden with misinformation. The notion that heavy weights stimulate myfobibrilar hypertrophy and light weights stimulate sarcoplasmic hypertrophy has been thoroughly debunked a long time ago. In fact, this was never an established fact and rather a bro-science talking point.

    You can not selectively train for sarcoplasmic versus myofibrillar hypertrophy by working in different repetition ranges.

    Countless studies have proven that similar levels of hypertrophy can be trained from any rep range from very low to very high rep ranges.

    Various studies looking at cytoplasmic contents directly debunk this false notion.

    (Functional and structural adaptations in skeletal muscle of trained athletes. S. E. Alway, J. D. MacDougall, D. G. Sale, J. R. Sutton, A. J. McComas. Journal of Applied PhysiologyMar 1988,64(3)1114-1120;)

    “Effects of high-intensity resistance training on untrained older men. II. Muscle fiber characteristics and nucleo-cytoplasmic relationships. Hikida, RS, Staron, RS, Hagerman, FC, Walsh, S, Kaiser, E, Shell, S and Hervey, S. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 55:7, B347-54 (2000)

  6. Geddit

    What do you think of the YouTuber Genetic Beast?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *