Volume differential

[occam]

Specifically with regard to Traps/Forearms/Calves

I've often heard that these muscle groups can and should be trained more frequently, as they are somehow able to withstand the additional volume.

Obviously most of these get a great deal of indirect attention in our other exercises. I'd like to ask our resident experts to weigh in on this.

BTW: I can talk to personal trainers at the crispy creme shop......I read and post at meso for the advice and insight of the intelligent hard core cutting edge research driven balls to the wall bad ass no bull shit results don't lie men we are lucky enough to have access to you get the idea and yes I don't like comma's......, there you go.

 

[Freddy]

Specifically with regard to Traps/Forearms/Calves

I've often heard that these muscle groups can and should be trained more frequently, as they are somehow able to withstand the additional volume.

Obviously most of these get a great deal of indirect attention in our other exercises. I'd like to ask our resident experts to weigh in on this.

BTW: I can talk to personal trainers at the crispy creme shop......I read and post at meso for the advice and insight of the intelligent hard core cutting edge research driven balls to the wall bad ass no bull shit results don't lie men we are lucky enough to have access to you get the idea and yes I don't like comma's......, there you go.

Those are the "hard work" muscles, specifically the traps and forearms. As long as you are doing a good routine, with lots of pulling (WITHOUT STRAPS), pressing, and squatting, you cannot avoid working the hell out of these muscles. I know it sounds really simple, but it is.

Basically, if you are training at least 3x a week, and doing some combination of 2 or 3 of these: pulling, pressing, and/or squatting hard every workout, than you can't miss.

And again, you have to limit your strap use. I never use straps, but I understand that sometimes you guys really want to use them. Hell, I'm willing to admit that there are rare occations when they ARE actually kinda useful. Just don't become dependant on them. I constantly see people using straps with a 135# barbell, than using that stupid rope on a stick forearm gadget. And then they wonder why their forearms look like chopsticks.

 

[Biggriz]

Traps are different than calves and forearms (muscle fiber make-up). I can get anyone's traps to grow, even look overdeveloped, but calves and forearms are another story. True, what Freddie said, but it mostly applies to strength development and not mass development. These are the two places I first look to see if an individual is genetically gifted (bodybuilding material). Sure you can get them to grow, but if your genetically limited, it's much harder. And I'm not making excuses...I hate it when someone says they're not genetically gifted like so and so, that's why they're small, etc....fuckin lazy bastards. We all can develope our calves and forearms..some are simply born with them, others not.
But if most guys did as many calf raises as they did bicep curls we would see many more sets of big calves in the gym.
And to answer your question...most calves and forearms respond better with more frequent training. But do it all..especially with calves...high reps, light weight...low reps, heavy weight....and don't stop until they GROWWWW

 

[occam]

Good replies...........I'm actually quite lucky with regard to those body parts and proportion in general. As I look to my next run I am planning my split and thought it would be good to hear some opinions on this gym legend.

My only real lagging area is my neck.....I've had problems with it since high school. At least once a year I hurt myself....it causes me to be tentative in training which only leaves it farther behind.

Is the neck an area that responds well to higher volume?

 

[Freddy]

If you are already pulling and squatting a lot, get a neck harness and do direct neck work. Rounded back high bar goodmornings would be good too. If you're not squatting and pulling a lot, do more of that as well.

EDIT: Also, I forgot to mention this before...but Hogg has some real good training advice for calves. You should do a search and look around.