Question about supersets

[The_Grinder]

I've never done much in the way of supersets but so far this week I've done two workouts where I supersetted almost all of my sets. I only supersetted the antagonist muscles and it really bumped up the intensity. Is it wise to consistently use supersets or are they something that should only be brought out every once in a while to shake things up and bust out of a plateau? All I know is that I was able to have a more intense workout than Ive had in a while and I was just wondering if I would be able to keep that same intensity and make gains if I keep supersetting as a normal part of my workout.

[beefcake]

Supersets are great every once in a while to break out of plateau's and what not. I wouldn't use them too frequently however. They aren't really a great mass builder. They're more of a high intensity endurance workout.

[The_Grinder]

Yeah I understand. It makes sense that if the body gets too used to supersetting it can stop making gains, just like any other routine that gets old. What if I used supersets with different sets of muscles and constantly rotated? For example, one week I would superset chest and back, the next week I would do bis/tris, the next week I would do shoulders and lats. And then I would take a week or two just doing straight workouts before I started over. I wonder if that way I could keep the intensity and extra testosterone of the supersets while letting my muscles rest for a few weeks. Would I still get the shock of supersets whenever a certain muscle group came around??

[beefcake]

Yeah I understand. It makes sense that if the body gets too used to supersetting it can stop making gains, just like any other routine that gets old. What if I used supersets with different sets of muscles and constantly rotated? For example, one week I would superset chest and back, the next week I would do bis/tris, the next week I would do shoulders and lats. And then I would take a week or two just doing straight workouts before I started over. I wonder if that way I could keep the intensity and extra testosterone of the supersets while letting my muscles rest for a few weeks. Would I still get the shock of supersets whenever a certain muscle group came around??

That would work. It's an every once in a while thing or a good finisher at the end of a workout.

[Bouncer]

Supersets are great every once in a while to break out of plateau's and what not.

agreed. did some today.

[coffee-guy]

Just remember that your central nervous system is typically what needs the break and/or shock factor - not always your muscles...

In other words - I wouldn't do supersets for one bodypart a week - just do an entire week of them every other month or so unless you're just really dragging ass one day and need a boost....

[JUICE]

i do them once in a while.

[timid]

Would it make sense to make them a part of an extended routine?

[The_Grinder]

Would it make sense to make them a part of an extended routine?

That was my original question timid and its lookin like from what I've heard that they would still be effective as part of an extended routine, but not near as effective as the shock you get from doing them every once in a while.