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Influence of maximum strength on muscle power production and endurance

It seems that stronger subjects present less strength endurance compared to weaker subjects at the same relative intensity. Since the level of maximum strength affects power production, it is also expected that stronger subjects present lower power endurance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of maximum strength on power production and endurance over multiple sets and repetitions of the half-squat exercise. Forty- two subjects were classified according to the result in the 1RM test and the 10 strongest and 10 weakest were selected to participate. In order to evaluate power endurance, both groups performed 10 sets of 6 repetitions at 40% and 60% 1RM as fast as possible. The absolute power (AP) and relative power (RP) (corrected by body weight) developed in half-squat concentric phase were measured. Analysis of variance for repeated measures (Two-Way ANOVA) revealed that the stronger subjects decreased AP from 4th repetition on and RP from 5th repetition on at 60% 1RM. The weakest subjects decreased AP from 6th repetition on and maintained RP production over the ten series. There was no significant effect on 40% 1RM. This result suggests that stronger subjects fatigue first at higher intensities. The early fatigue in stronger subjects could be associated with different factors related to body control of homeostasis such as blood pressure, motor units recruitment and proportion of types I and II muscle fibers.

fatigue; training load; intermittent activity


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