Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of daily
undulating periodisation (DUP) and session undulating periodisation (SUP)
for maintaining strength and power over a 3-wk period in a group of
resistance-trained women. DUP comprised one session each of strength and
power training while DUP combined both strength and power training within
each session. Both training programmes were equalised for training volume
and intensity. Methods: Sixteen resistance-trained women were pre-tested
for body mass, mid-arm and mid-thigh girths, one-repetition maximum (1
RM) dynamic squat (SQ) and bench press (BP), and power during
countermovement jumps (CMJ) and bench press throws (BPT). The 1 RM
SQ and BP data were used to assign the participants into groups for twice a
week training. Results: A two-way (group x time) analysis of variance
(ANOVA) with repeated measures for time found no significant changes in
body mass, mid-arm girth, 1 RM BP and SQ, and BPT and CMJ power for
both groups. However, significant changes in mid-thigh girth were found (F1,
13 = 5.733, p = 0.032). Pooled BP data indicated improved upper body
strength (BP: F1, 13 = 6.346, p = 0.025) and decreased CMJ power (p = 0.016).
Conclusions: Both DUP and SUP programmes increased upper-body
strength and maintained lower-body strength adequately across a 3-wk phase
probably because the participants were weaker in the upper-body and the
lower-body had a reduced capacity for strength adaptations and
improvements.