EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION AREA   

Medicina dello Sport 2019 December;72(4):642-53

DOI: 10.23736/S0025-7826.19.03489-6

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Postperformance fatigue in cluster-set training with free and guided weight in trained athletes

Francisco TORRES LÓPEZ de HARO ✉, Guillermo OLCINA CAMACHO, Rafael TIMÓN ANDRADA

Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain

BACKGROUND: The proposal of this study was to compare the indicators of acute neuromuscular fatigue as well as the subjective perception of the effort after a cluster-set training protocol in the squat exercise, using both training free weight and guided weight.
METHODS: Sixteen subjects (29.13±4.03 years) with a great experience in weight training participated in the study. A crossover design was developed and all participants successfully completed two different sessions consisting of a cluster-set training in squat exercise using a load of 70% of 1RM, with free or guided weight. Neuromuscular fatigue was determined by assessing the performance in vertical jump tests (CMJ and SJ), the rated perceived exertion (REP), the pain perceived and the heart rate (HR). Baseline and final values between groups were compared using an ANOVA of repeated measures.
RESULTS: Significant differences in vertical jump performance (CMJ and SJ), REP and heart rate (HR) were found between baseline and final values after both training protocols (free and guided weight), but no significant difference in the postperformance fatigue was observed between groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that cluster-set training performed with free weight squat or guide weight machine cause a similar level of acute neuromuscular fatigue.

KEY WORDS: Fatigue; Physical exertion; Exercise