Acute and Long-Term Comparison of Fixed vs. Self-Selected Rest Interval Between Sets on Upper-Body Strength.

ABSTRACT: Simão, R, Polito, M, de Salles, BF, Marinho, DA, Garrido, ND, Santos Junior, ERT, and Willardson, JM. Acute and long-term comparison of fixed vs. self-selected rest interval between sets on upper-body strength. J Strength Cond Res 36(2): 540-544, 2022-The effects of different rest interval durations between sets has been widely studied, but only recently, the self-selected rest interval (SSRI) has been a matter of interest. However, previous studies comparing fixed and SSRI have investigated only acute responses. The purpose of this study was to analyze the acute and long-term effects of a fixed rest interval (FRI) vs. an SSRI between sets on upper-body performance and strength gains. Thirty-three trained men were randomly divided into 2 groups: FRI (75 seconds between sets), and SSRI. Both groups performed 3 sets with 75% of 1-repetition maximum until repetition failure in the chest press (CP), lat pull-down (LPD), shoulder press (SP), and seated row (SR) 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The results demonstrated that the SSRI allowed for significantly greater repetition performance vs. the FRI in the CP (26.1 ± 2.0 vs. 21.5 ± 1.8), LPD (30.1 ± 2.3 vs. 24.9 ± 1.9), SP (24.0 ± 2.8 vs. 17.4 ± 1.5), and SR (26.3 ± 1.6 vs. 22.0 ± 1.6). In addition, the following strength gains were observed: SSRI (CP: 6.8%, LPD: 8.0%, SP: 6.7%, SR: 7.8%) and FRI (CP: 7.4%, LPD: 6.7%, SP: 6.1%, SR: 7.0%) without significant differences between the groups. In conclusion, within an 8-week period, both protocols seem to be effective for strength gains, despite the higher training volume accomplished by the SSRI group. However, the FRI was 37% more time efficient.

Single-Joint Exercise Results in Higher Hypertrophy of Elbow Flexors Than Multijoint Exercise.

ABSTRACT: Mannarino, P, Matta, T, Lima, J, Simão, R, and Freitas de Salles, B. Single-Joint Exercise Results in Higher Hypertrophy of Elbow Flexors Than Multijoint Exercise. J Strength Cond Res 35(10): 2677-2681, 2021-Recent data suggest that single-joint exercises are unnecessary to maximize the resistance training (RT) results in novice to advanced individuals. However, the present literature is still inconsistent on this topic and controversy arises. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the unilateral dumbbell row (DR) (multiple-joint) vs. unilateral biceps curl (BC) (single-joint) exercises on strength and elbow flexors muscle thickness (MT). Ten untrained men were assigned to an 8-week RT program for elbow flexors, one arm performing DR and the other performing BC in a within-subject design. After a familiarization, pretraining MT was measured using an ultrasound (US) technique, and strength was tested using 10 repetition maximum (10RM) tests. After pretesting, 8 weeks of RT (4-6 sets, 8-12 repetitions to concentric failure, 2 sessions per week) was performed. Post-testing was conducted in the same order as pretesting 48 and 72 hours after the last session. Single-joint BC exercise resulted in higher hypertrophy of elbow flexors (11.06%) than the DR (5.16%) multijoint exercise after 8 weeks of RT (p = 0.009). The 10RM improvement was higher for DR in DR-trained arm, whereas 10RM for BC was higher in BC-trained arm. The single-joint exercise resulted in higher hypertrophy of the elbow flexors than multijoint exercise after 8 weeks of RT, whereas strength improvements were greater in accordance with specificity of RT exercise. Therefore, in RT prescription for elbow flexors hypertrophy, single-joint exercises such as BC should be emphasized.

Efeitos do programa de exercícios físicos, das academias da terceira idade, sobre a composição corporal e capacidade funcional de idosos / Efectos del programa de ejercicios físicos, propuesto en los gimnasios de la tercera edad, sobre la composición corporal y capacidad funcional de ancianos / Effects of the physical exercise program, in elderly public outdoor gyms, on body composition and functional capacity of the old men

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos do programa de exercícios físicos, proposto nas academias da terceira idade, sobre a composição corporal e capacidade funcional de idosos. MÉTODO: Participaram do presente estudo 54 homens idosos (67.7 +/- 5.7 anos; 1.7 +/- 0.1 m; 75.1 +/- 12.2 kg; 27.2 +/- 4.3 kg.m-2) sem quaisquer disfunções cognitivas, osteomioarticular ou contraindicação médica. A intervenção experimental (12 semanas) foi composta por exercícios proprioceptivos, alongamentos e treinamento em circuito, duração de uma hora e frequência semanal de no mínimo duas vezes por semana. RESULTADOS: O teste de Wilcoxon observou diferenças significativas no índice de massa corporal (p = 0.007), na circunferência abdominal (p = 0.001), força dos membros superiores (0.00007), flexibilidade dos membros superiores (p = 0.0015) e inferiores (p = 0.0019). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados do presente estudo sugerem que o programa de exercícios nas academias da terceira idade promovem a manutenção ou melhoria da composição corporal e capacidade funcional, servindo como base para políticas públicas, no intuito de desenvolvimento e manutenção do programa de exercícios físicos para idosos

OBJETIVO: Evaluar los efectos del programa de ejercicios físicos, propuesto en los gimnasios de la tercera edad, sobre la composición corporal y capacidad funcional de ancianos. MÉTODO: En el presente estudio participaron 54 hombres ancianos (67.7 +/- 5.7 años, 1.7 +/- 0.1 m, 75.1 +/- 12.2 kg, 27.2 +/- 4.3 kg.m-2) sin ninguna disfunción cognitiva, osteomioarticular o contraindicación médica. La intervención experimental (12 semanas) fue compuesta por ejercicios propioceptivos, estiramientos y entrenamiento en circuito, duración de una hora y frecuencia semanal de por lo menos dos veces por semana. RESULTADOS: La prueba de Wilcoxon observó diferencias significativas en el índice de masa corporal (p = 0.007), en la circunferencia abdominal (p = 0.001), fuerza de los miembros superiores (0.00007), flexibilidad de los miembros superiores (p = 0.0015) e inferiores (p = 0.0019). CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados del presente estudio sugieren que el programa de ejercicios en los gimnasios de tercera edad promueve el mantenimiento o mejora de la composición corporal y la capacidad funcional, sirviendo como base para políticas públicas, con el fin de desarrollar y mantener el programa de ejercicios físicos para ancianos

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effects of the physical exercise program, proposed in elderly public outdoor gyms, on the body composition and functional capacity of the old men. METHOD: Fifty-four elderly men (67.7 +/- 5.7 years; 1.7 +/- 0.1 m; 75.1 +/- 12.2 kg; 27.2 +/- 4.3 kg.m2) participated in the present study without any cognitive dysfunctions, musculoskeletal disorders, or against medical indication. The experimental intervention (12 weeks) consisted of proprioceptive exercises, stretching and circuit training, one hour and twice-weekly of frequency. RESULTS: Wilcoxon's test found significant differences in body mass index (p = 0.007), abdominal circumference (p = 0.001), upper limb strength (0.00007), upper limb flexibility (p = 0.0015) and lower limbs flexibility (P = 0.0019). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that the exercise program in elderly public gyms promotes the maintenance or improvement of body composition and functional capacity, serving as a basis for public policies, to develop and maintain the physical exercise program for elderly

Influence of Rest Interval Length Between Sets on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability After a Strength Training Session Performed By Prehypertensive Men.

Figueiredo, T, Willardson, JM, Miranda, H, Bentes, CM, Machado Reis, V, Freitas de Salles, B, and Simão, R. Influence of rest interval length between sets on blood pressure and heart rate variability after a strength training session performed by prehypertensive men. J Strength Cond Res 30(7): 1813-1824, 2016-The purposes of this study were to compare the effects of 2 different rest interval lengths between sets and exercises during strength training (ST) on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) in prehypertensive trained men, and to verify how HRV influences BP. Eleven volunteer subjects (age: 26.1 ± 3.6 years; body mass: 74.1 ± 7.9 kg; height: 172.1 ± 4.1 cm; % body fat: 18.3 ± 6.3; ST experience: 1.7 ± 0.8 years) participated in this study. After assessing one repetition maximum (1RM) loads for the free weight bench press, lat pull-down, shoulder press, biceps curl, triceps extension, leg press, leg extension, and leg curl exercises; subjects performed 2 sessions with different rest intervals between sets and exercises in random order and 72 hours apart. Each ST session consisted of performing 3 sets of eight to 10 repetitions at 70% of a 1RM for each exercise, with either 1-minute (sequence 1 [SEQ1]) or 2-minute (sequence 2 [SEQ2]) rest intervals between sets and exercises, respectively. Before and after each session, BP and HRV (low frequency band, high frequency [HF] band, and square root of the mean squared difference of successive RR-interval index) were tracked for 60 minutes. The results demonstrated a postexercise hypotensive response (PEH) after both rest interval conditions (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, increases in cardiac stress were noted after SEQ1, with a greater withdrawal in parasympathetic activity vs. baseline as noted in the HF band at 1-, 10-, and 20-minute postexercise (p ≤ 0.05). These results indicate that both sequences provided an effective stimulus for a PEH. Therefore, strength and conditioning professionals may prescribe 1- or 2-minute rest between sets and exercises when the goal is to reduce BP after training sessions. However, resting 1 minute between sets and exercises was associated with greater cardiac stress, and so this may necessitate prescription of longer rest intervals between sets and exercises when working with individuals who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular dysfunction.