Repetitions in Reserve and Rate of Perceived Exertion Increase the Prediction Capabilities of the Load-Velocity Relationship

Balsalobre-Fernandez, C, Munoz-Lopez, M, Marchante, D, and Garcia-Ramos, A. Repetitions in reserve and rate of perceived exertion increase the prediction capabilities of the load-velocity relationship. J Strength Cond Res 35(3): 724-730, 2021-This study aimed to (a) analyze the relationships between relative load (i.e., %1 repetition maximum; 1RM) and movement velocity, repetitions in reserve (RIR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) in competitive powerlifters and (b) examine whether a multiple linear regression model with the movement velocity, RIR, and RPE as predictor variables could improve the goodness of fit of the load-velocity relationship. Ten competitive powerlifters performed an incremental loading test (from 50 to 100% 1RM) on the full-squat, hip-thrust, and bench press exercises. Barbell velocity was measured using a linear position transducer, while RIR and RPE were registered immediately after each set. Velocity (r(2): 0.747-0.887), RIR (r(2): 0.857-0.928), and RPE (r(2): 0.908-0.933) were moderately to highly related to relative load. A higher amount of variance of the relative load was explained when the RIR and RPE were added to velocity in a multiple regression model in comparison with the load-velocity relationship (r(2): 0.924-0.947). Moreover, it was observed that, in all cases, individual load-velocity, load-RIR, and load-RPE relationships had higher r(2) scores than the generalized load-velocity relationship. Incorporating the RIR and RPE as predictors of the relative load along with movement velocity into a multiple linear regression was shown to provide better estimations of the %1RM than using a linear load-velocity relationship.