INTRODUCTION: Very little is known about the effects of movement velocity and rest intervals between sets of resistance exercise. PURPOSE: To compare the maximum number of repetitions to volitional fatigue (REPS) on a knee extension machine with the dominant leg for different loads, velocities and rest intervals between sets. METHODS: Nine volunteers (35.8 ± 10.8 years; 74.2 ± 16.7 kg; 171.0 ± 10.0 cm) reported to the laboratory to determine 1RM and REPS under six conditions, randomly determined and separated by at least 48 h: 1 set with 60% 1RM at 80°•s-1 and 25°•s-1; 1 set with 80% 1RM at 25°•s-1; 3 sets with 80% 1RM at 80°•s-1 and rest intervals of 3 min, 1 min and one that allowed recovery or stabilization of muscle oxygenation (RMox), measured by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). RESULTS: Dependent samples t-test showed that REPS was significantly (p < 0.05) larger for the lighter than the heavier load, for slow (light = 8.8 ± 1.3; heavy = 5.9 ± 0.9) and fast velocities (light = 16.3 ± 3.9; heavy = 9.4 ± 1.9), and significantly larger for the fast than the slow velocity, for both loads. The 3x3 ANOVA did not show differences among intervals on set 1 (3 min = 9.4 ± 1.9; 1 min = 10.8 ± 3.2; RMox = 10.1 ± 3.0), however, there were significant differences on sets 2 and 3 between 3 min (set 2 = 7.0 ± 1.7; set 3 = 6.4 ± 1.3) and 1 min (set 2 = 5.6 ± 1.1; set 3 = 4.8 ± 1.2), but not between RMox (set 2 = 6.4 ± 1.7; set 3 = 6.1 ± 1.5) and the other intervals. For all three intervals, REPS on set 1 was significantly larger than on the other sets. CONCLUSIONS: Performance in resistance exercise is affected by load, velocity and rest interval between sets and is independent of muscle oxygenation recovery. Exercise prescription and assessment of performance should take these variables into consideration in view of the specific aims.
Intensity; Knee extension; Performance; Fatigue
