Abstract
PurposeThe aims of this study were to compare mechanical outputs (i.e. power and impulse), physiological (i.e. heart rate) and perceptual (i.e. effort and fatigue) responses in older men to traditional-set or different cluster-set configuration resistance training protocols.MethodsIn a randomized cross-over design, 20 healthy old men (aged 67.2 ± 2.1 years) completed four resistance training sessions using the back squat exercise loaded with optimal power loads. Training configurations were: traditional (TRA), three sets of six repetitions with 120-s rest between each set; Cluster-set 1 (CLU1), 24 single-repetition clusters with 10 s of rest after every cluster; Cluster-set 2 (CLU2), 12 double-repetition clusters with 20-s rest after every cluster; and Cluster-set 4 (CLU4), 6 quadruple-repetition clusters with 40-s rest after every cluster.ResultsCluster-set configurations resulted in greater power outputs compared to traditional-set configuration (range 2.6–9.2%, all ple 0.07 for main effect and protocol times set interactions). CLU1 and CLU2 induced higher heart rate (range 7.1–10.5%, all p < 0.001 for main effect and protocol times set interactions), lower rating of perceived exertion (range − 1.3 to − 3.2 AU, all ple 0.006 for pairwise comparisons) and lower ratings of fatigue (range − 0.15 to − 4 AU, all ple 0.012 for pairwise comparisons) compared to TRA and CLU4. Finally, an absolute preference for CLU2 was reported.ConclusionsFindings presented here support the prescription of CLU2 as an optimal resistance training configuration for trained older men using the back squat.
Highlights
Aging is a complex and multidimensional process characterized by a variety of biological changes, degenerative in nature, which contribute to impaired physiological processes
ICCs for baseline heart rate (HR), and first repetition mean propulsive power (MPP) and first repetition impulse across the four protocols were 0.82, 0.96 and 0.76, respectively
No differences were found between experimental protocols for baseline HR responses, MPP and impulse of the first repetition (Table 1 for descriptive statistics and 95% confidence intervals (CI))
Summary
Aging is a complex and multidimensional process characterized by a variety of biological changes, degenerative in nature, which contribute to impaired physiological processes. The ability to exert high levels of force at high velocity (i.e. muscle power) decreases with advancing age faster than the muscle mass loss and muscular strength reduction (Metter et al 1997; Skelton et al 1994), due to a selective loss of Type II fibers in old age These age-related impairments in skeletal muscle morphology, strength and more meaningfully, power capabilities, are part of the causal pathway for secondary adverse outcomes such as frailty, reduced mobility (Bischoff-Ferrari et al 2015; Schaap et al 2018), longer hospitalisation (Cawthon et al 2017) and specific comorbidities including poorer bone health, osteoporosis (Bischoff-Ferrari et al 2015; Schaap et al 2018), obesity and type 2 diabetes (van Sloten et al 2011). A decline in muscle function is strongly associated with future physical disability and mortality from middle-age into later life (De Buyser et al 2016)
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