Acute Effects of Distribution of Rest between Repetitions

The purpose of this study was to compare acute mechanical and metabolic effects of 2 sessions of resistance training equated by volume and total resting time but with different set configuration: sets to failure (FS) vs. distribution of rest between each repetition (NFS). 10 male judoists completed a session consisting of 3 sets to failure of parallel back squat with 4 repetitions at maximum load, and a rest of 3 min between the sets. At least 72 h later subjects developed the same volume, but total resting time was distributed among individual repetitions. Before and after sessions isometric force and mean propulsive velocity with load corresponding to maximum propulsive power were assessed. Results showed that in respect to FS, NFS showed an 18.94% (+/- 17.98) higher average mean propulsive velocity during session (0.42 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.35 +/- 0.08 m.s(-1); p = 0.009), lower blood lactate concentration after session (maximum average value 1.52 +/- 0.77 vs. 3.95 +/- 1.82; session effect: p = 0.001) and higher mean propulsive velocity with load corresponding to maximum propulsive power (mean propulsive velocity immediately after session 0.64 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.59 +/- 0.12 m.s(-1); session effect: p = 0.019). These data show that distribution of rest in sessions equated for volume and total resting time determines differences in performance during sessions and mechanical or metabolic acute effects.