Time Under Tension (TUT)

Time under tension refers to the total time your muscles are actively working during a set. Slower, more controlled reps increase TUT and lead to greater fatigue in the target muscle. A typical bodybuilding set might aim for 30–60 seconds of TUT. For example, doing 10 reps at a 3-second lowering tempo would give you ~30 seconds of TUT. The goal isn’t speed — it’s muscle control.