## 4 Discussion
Relative strength, assessed using the Wilks coefficient and IPF-GL points, showed a trend toward improvement in the LL-HV group, though these differences were not statistically significant compared to the HL-LV protocol. It is important to note that these changes in relative strength indices are primarily attributable to increases in 1 RM, as body mass remained practically constant throughout the intervention. This indicates that the improvements in relative strength are a direct reflection of the absolute strength gains achieved via LL-HV training. Together with the observed enhancements in 1 RM, these findings suggest that LL-HV training can be as effective as, or potentially more effective than traditional HL-LV training methods in strength sports such as powerlifting, by improving performance metrics relative to body weight without necessitating changes in body mass. Structural outcomes were also positively influenced by LL-HV training. The LL-HV group exhibited significant increases in arm circumference, with a trending increase in chest circumference compared to the HL-LV group. We acknowledge the limitations of using thigh circumference as a proxy for muscle hypertrophy, as it does not provide a direct measure of muscle thickness or volume. However, its inclusion as a secondary variable was intended to support and complement the primary outcomes of maximal strength and MV, providing a broader perspective on the structural adaptations elicited by the protocols. The results of circumference measurements align with the improvements observed in 1 RM and MV, reinforcing the overall effectiveness of both training approaches. These findings align with studies showing that higher training volumes, particularly when incorporating diverse loading schemes, can promote muscle hypertrophy in trained athletes [48]. The broader range of repetitions (approximately 15 to 50) and relative loads (45% and approximately 70% 1 RM) in the LL-HV protocol may have provided a more varied stimulus conducive to muscle growth. Previous research has explored the effects of training protocols based on a constant load percentage zone (8-12 repetitions) versus protocols that vary the load percentage across a broader range (2-30 repetitions) [21; 49]. Our findings support the idea that optimizing structural adaptations can be achieved by employing a broad range of loads, provided the effort level approaches maximum intensity [27]. Supporting this, [PERSON] et al. [26] demonstrated that LL-HV training not only influences muscle strength and damage but also indicates that varying training stimuli among trained weightlifting athletes, can yield beneficial outcomes. Notably, the LL-HV group demonstrated reduced markers of muscle damage, such as creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), highlighting an additional benefit of minimizing recovery time and fatigue. These findings suggest that diversifying the training stimulus with a wide range of repetitions, as executed in the LL-HV protocol of our study, may mitigate injury risk, enhance adaptation in well-trained athletes, and balance performance gains with reduced physiological strain by decreasing mechanical stress on muscles and joints. Despite these robust findings, several limitations must be acknowledged. The study's duration, while consistent with the previous literature [49], may not fully capture long-term adaptations and potential variations in individual responses to LL-HV training. Furthermore, although the sample size was adequate for statistical analysis, it may not fully represent the broader population of resistance-trained individuals. Future research should explore the effects of extended training durations and include more diverse populations to validate and extend these findings. Additionally, while circumference measurements provide practical and applicable insights into structural adaptations, they are limited in their ability to directly assess muscle thickness or volume and may be influenced by factors such as transient cell swelling.