Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of different configurations of repetitions within a set of deadlifts on the mechanical variables of concentric force, concentric time under tension, impulse, work, power, and fatigue. Eleven resistance trained men (age: 21.9 ± 1.0 years; deadlift 1 repetition maximum: 183.2 ± 38.3 kg) performed four repetitions of the deadlift exercise with a load equivalent to 90% of 1 repetition maximum under three different set configurations: Traditional (continuous repetitions); Doubles cluster (repetitions 1 and 2, and 3 and 4 performed continuously with a 30 s rest inserted between repetitions 2 and 3); Singles cluster (30 s rest provided between repetitions). The order of the sessions was counterbalanced across the subjects and the mechanical variables were calculated during each repetition from the synchronized signals recorded from force platforms and a motion analysis system. Relative to the Traditional set, the insertion of rest periods in the cluster set configurations resulted in greater time under tension (p < 0.001) and therefore, greater impulse (p < 0.001) during the repetitions. Reductions in power were observed during the cluster sets compared to the Traditional set (p = 0.001). The Doubles cluster set resulted in greater fatigue scores for power compared to the Traditional set (p = 0.04). The influence of cluster sets on mechanical variables appears to be mediated by the mechanical characteristics of the exercise (i.e. stretch-shortening cycle) and the competing physiological mechanisms of fatigue and potentiation.
Highlights
Resistance training has long been advocated in the training of athletes as an effective method to improve muscular strength and power (Kraemer et al, 2002)
The study employed a crossover design in which subjects were required to perform four repetitions of the deadlift exercise with a load equivalent to 90% of 1-repetition maximum (1RM) under three different set configurations: Traditional set, where the repetitions were performed continuously; Doubles cluster set, where repetitions 1 and 2, and 3 and 4 were performed continuously with a 30 s rest inserted between repetitions 2 and 3; Singles cluster set, where 30 s rest was provided between each consecutive repetition
Simple contrasts showed that the decrease in the impulse between repetitions 1 to 3 in the Traditional set was significantly different from the increase in the impulse achieved between these repetitions in the Doubles cluster set (p = 0.002)
Summary
Resistance training has long been advocated in the training of athletes as an effective method to improve muscular strength and power (Kraemer et al, 2002). Considerable research exists highlighting the many phenotypic and neurogenic factors that are proposed to underpin improvements in strength and power following a period of resistance training (Abernethy et al, 1994; Baldwin and Haddad, 2001; Duchateau et al, 2006; Folland and Williams, 2007). In order to accrue the appropriate adaptations required to improve athletic performance, it is necessary to manipulate the volume, intensity, and selection of resistance exercises, and these manipulations form the basis of developing a periodized training program (Bompa and Haff, 2008; Stone et al, 2007). As the planned manipulation of training volume (number of repetitions, sets, workouts), intensity (load used) and exercise selection during a periodized resistance training program is implemented across different training timescales (macro-, meso-, microcycles, individual workouts), methods to manage fatigue vary depending upon the specific timescale (Stone et al, 2007). Whereby repetitions are interspersed with short rest periods
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