Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain | [b] Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, Spain
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Amador García-Ramos, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Ctra. Alfacar, s/n, 18011, Granada, Spain. Tel.: +34 677815348; Fax: +34 958244369; E-mail:amagr@ugr.es
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Cluster training is being increasingly used to develop
muscular power. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of short inter-repetition rest
(IRR) periods on the capacity to maintain maximal levels of power output. METHODS: In a first session, 16 active-duty soldiers performed a
progressive loading test to establish the load linked to maximal power
(optimal load, OL), and the half squat 1-repetition maximum. In Session 2,
six individual sets of repetitions performed to failure (or a maximum of 20
repetitions) were conducted using the loads OL, low (LL, 15% below OL),
and high (HL, 15% above OL) as quickly as possible. For each load,
participants performed one set without rest between repetitions (CR,
continuous repetition protocol), and another set with 6 s of rest between
repetitions (IRR protocol). RESULTS: The number of repetitions participants performed before
exceeding a power loss threshold of 15% were higher in the IRR versus the
CR protocol by 218% (11 vs. 35), 86% (7 vs. 13), and 175% (4 vs.
11) for LL, OL, and HL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A 6 s interval between repetitions is sufficient to
induce partial recovery in participants, and could therefore improve muscle
power output.
Keywords: Muscle fatigue, cluster training, load-power relationship, power training
