A Review: Effect of Rest Interval Duration on the Volume Completed During Resistance Training

Abstract

The rest duration between sets is one of the most essential resistance training variables; however, research on the effects of rest intervals between sets has shown inconsistencies on whether short or long rest intervals significantly increase overall performance during resistance training. This literature review aimed to investigate how different rest intervals between sets affect the maintenance of repetitions, training volume, and overall strength gains from resistance exercises in both trained and non-trained individuals. Fifteen original investigations and three textbooks involving the effect of between set rest intervals during resistance training are summarized in this review. The results for the studies interested in repetition maintenance suggested longer rest intervals significantly increased the number of repetitions and helped repetitions stay more consistent throughout sets. Longer rest intervals were also determined to increase training volume but had no significant effect on overall strength gains. Biochemical substrates that provide the catalyst for energy creation can take up to eight minutes to fully resynthesize; therefore, more research is needed on longer rest intervals to see if there are further increases in resistance training performance.