Purpose: This study was undertaken to compare the signal characteristics of surface electromyography (EMG) between progressive resistive increase exercise (PRIE) and progressive resistive decrease exercise (PRDE). Methods: Forty healthy male subjects were randomly assigned to either the PRIE group or the PRDE group. Subjects participated in the PRIE and PRDE methods, with 10 RM for each subject. EMG activity was recorded from the rectus femoris muscle. Outcome data were collected for both groups pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, then at 5 and 10 minutes post-exercise. Repeated measures 2-way ANOVA was used to determine the statistical difference of the root mean square (RMS) in EMG activity. Results: We showed that RMS values, when compared with pre-exercise, were decreased immediately after exercise and were increased at 5 and 10 minutes after exercise (p<0.05). The RMS values were not significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: These results can indicate that both the PRIE and PRDE protocols will be improve strength with equivalent efficacy. Further studies are needed to address exercise duration, frequency of exercise sessions, and rest times than the PRIE and PRDE protocols with regard to the changes in strength improvement without a large amount of muscle fatigue.