Pilot study compared muscle activation at moderate discomfort versus failure in older adults' bodyweight exercises.

This pilot study investigated whether older adults could achieve adequate muscle activation at a point of perceived moderate discomfort rather than training to technical failure during bodyweight exercises (squats and push-ups). Researchers measured electromyography (EMG) activation in the quadriceps and triceps and counted repetitions between the point of moderate discomfort and failure. The motivation was to identify whether stopping at discomfort rather than failure could provide training benefits while improving adherence in older populations.