Accentuate the Negative? Effects of Eccentric Overload on Muscular Adaptations During Split Jerk Performance

Roderick, K, Comfort, P, Suchomel, TJ, Swinton, PA, and Schoenfeld, BJ. Accentuate the negative? Effects of eccentric overload on muscular adaptations during split jerk performance. J Strength Cond Res 40(3): 255-264, 2026-We aimed to assess the effectiveness of using accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) with the split jerk to enhance muscular adaptations of experienced weightlifters during an 8-week training cycle. Eighteen subjects with at least 1 year of consistent split jerk training were randomly assigned to an experimental group that used AEL training for the split jerk or a traditional loading group. Both training programs included weightlifting competition lifts and their derivatives, strength movements such as the back squat, and accessory exercises that targeted midline stability. Both groups trained the split jerk twice a week for 5 working sets per session and 3 repetitions per set, with AEL using weight releasers to unload at completion of the dip phase. Body composition, anthropometric, and 1 repetition maximum split jerk and back squat outcomes were assessed. Bayesian analyses including hierarchical models that produced summary standardized mean difference comparisons for each outcome category were performed. Results were uncertain, with estimates either close to zero (Pooled Strength z = 0.01 [95% CI: -0.30 to 0.26]) or tending to favor AEL (Pooled Body Composition z = 0.10 [95% CI: -0.12 to 0.27]; Pooled Anthropometry z = 0.07 [95%CI: -0.06 to 0.20]). In conclusion, we obtained insufficient data to clearly support hypotheses of superior muscular adaptations when applying AEL during split jerk training for an 8-week intervention compared with traditional methods in weightlifters. However, central estimates tended to indicate small effects favoring AEL, warranting further investigation with different training program designs, larger sample sizes, and longer intervention durations.