The proponents of ELASTIC (4,21,24) suggest that the elastic device is a suitable alternative to the use of conventional resistance training equipment for development of muscle strength, if a similar external force is provided by the ELASTIC.

The resting unstretched length of elastic material (Hygienic Corporation, Akron, OH) was determined for each subject by measuring the distance from the origin of the elastic device (base of the Nautilus machine chair) to the axis (a custom made ankle cuff).

The present study was designed to address the question of "whether using ELASTIC device can provide an equal magnitude of external force and result in similar acute neuromuscular and anabolic hormonal responses as ASYM CAM?" The importance of resolving this debate is underlined by the fact that elastic resistance has long been accepted as an affordable, portable and versatile training device compared with other resistance training apparatus (27).

(15) reported the resistance of an elastic device (Hygienic Corporation, Akron, Ohio) ranging from of 3.3 N (yellow) to 80.1 N (silver) when elastic materials were at 18% (minimum) and 250% (maximum) of deformation from resting length (unstretched), respectively.

To increase the magnitude of elastic force, two strategies have been recommended in the research literature; firstly, reducing the initial length of the elastic device (Page and Ellenbecker, 2003) and secondly, doubling or tripling the number of elastic units (using additional various elastic colour coded bands in parallel (Hodges, 2006; Simoneau et al., 2001)).

We therefore hypothesized that: (i) a similar force of contraction could be elicited with the ER device when compared with the NM by reducing the initial length of the elastic device and secondly, using additional elastic bands in parallel, (ii) a similar magnitude of decline in ER and NM contractile force generation would occur with a single session of repeated bouts of high variable resistance loading and (iii) a similar magnitude of muscle damage and DOMS with ER versus NM would be evident following a single session of repeated bouts of high resistance loading.

The resting un-stretched length of elastic material was determined for every subject by measuring the distance from the origin of the elastic device (anchored to the base of the NM chair) to the axis (a custom made ankle cuff).

The lever arm of the NM and the axis of elastic device were equipped with a force transducer (Noraxon, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA).

These elastic pressing means include two elastic devices, which extend from a laterally central region in the crotch-part of the panty from the end of the front-part through the center panty to the back-part.