Acute effects of muscle failure and training system (traditional vs. rest-pause) in resistance exercise on countermovement jump performance in trained adults

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Gantois, Petrus^{a; *} | de Souza Fonseca, Fabiano^b | de Lima-Júnior, Dalton^a | da Cunha Costa, Manoel^{a; c} | de Vasconcelos Costa, Bruna Daniella^d | Cyrino, Edilson Serpeloni^d | de Sousa Fortes, Leonardo^a

Affiliations: [a] Associate Graduate Program in Physical Education UPE/UFPB, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil | [b] Department of Physical Education, Rural Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil | [c] Superior School of Physical Education, University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil | [d] Graduate Program of Physical Education, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Petrus Gantois, Associate Graduate Program in Physical Education UPE/UFPB, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil. Associate Graduate Program in Physical Education, Department of Physical Education, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraiba, Lot. Campus University, João Pessoa, PB, 58051-900, Brazil. E-mail: pgm.gantois@gmail.com.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Traditional and rest-pause systems are commonly used during resistance training. These systems have different rest times between repetitions that might affect neuromuscular status and fatigue level. OBJECTIVE: This study compared the acute effects of traditional and rest-pause resistance exercise done to muscular failure on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. METHODS: Twenty-nine recreationally strength-trained adults of both sexes aged from 18 to 33 years old performed four experimental resistance exercise sessions (half back-squat exercise) in a randomized order. The experimental conditions were: Traditional system to muscular failure (TR-F; 4 × 15 [15RM]) or non-failure (TR-NF; 5 × 12 [15RM]), and rest-pause system to muscular failure (RP-F; 60 reps with 30 s rest between each failure) or non-failure (RP-NF; 60 reps with 10.2 s rest between each repetition). CMJ height was measured at pre-experiment, Post-15 s, and Post-30 min. Perceived recovery was assessed at pre-experiment, lactate concentration Post-2 min, and rating of perceived exertion Post-30 min. RESULTS: CMJ height decrease occurred at Post-15 s and 30 min for the TR-F, TR-NF, and RP-F sessions (p< 0.05). Interaction effects (p< 0.05) showed exercise to muscle failure (TR-F and RP-F) induced greater neuromuscular decrement at Post-15 s, with RP-F leading to a higher CMJ performance impairment at Post-30 min (p< 0.001). Higher blood lactate concentrations were found following TR-F, TR-NF, and RP-F (p< 0.05) than RP-NF conditions, whereas greater internal training load perception was reported after training to muscular failure (p< 0.05) than non-failure exercise. CONCLUSION: Resistance exercise to muscular failure induced greater CMJ height decrement and internal training load perception than non-failure exercise, with RP-F leading to a higher acute neuromuscular performance impairment.

Keywords: Strength exercise, fatigue, neuromuscular performance, training load

DOI: 10.3233/IES-202123

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 11-20, 2021