title: Strength increases in upper and lower body are larger with longer inter-set rest intervals in trained men.
abstract: The purpose of the current study was to compare different rest interval durations on upper and lower body strength. Thirty-six recreationally trained men were randomly assigned to 1 min (G1; n=12), 3 min (G3; n=12) or 5 min (G5; n=12) rest interval groups. Each group performed the same resistance training program. Maximal strength was assessed at baseline, mid-point (8 weeks) and post-training (16 weeks) for the bench press and leg press exercises. For the bench press, significant increases were demonstrated within G3 and G5 at 8 weeks and at 16 weeks versus baseline (p<0.05). Additionally, for the bench press, G5 (98.2+/-3.7 kg) was significantly stronger than G1 (92.5+/-3.8 kg) at 16 weeks (p<0.05). For the leg press, significant increases were demonstrated within all groups at 8 weeks and at 16 weeks versus baseline (p<0.05). Additionally, for the leg press, G5 (290.8+/-23.5 kg) was significantly stronger than G1 (251.0+/-15.8 kg) at 8 weeks (p<0.01) and G3 (305.0+/-23.9 kg) and G5 (321.7+/-21.7 kg) were significantly stronger than G1 (276.7+/-10.7 kg) at 16 weeks (p<0.05). The findings of the current study indicate that utilising 3 or 5 min rest intervals between sets may result in significantly greater increases in upper and lower body strength beyond the initial weeks of training versus utilising 1-min rest intervals between sets.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Clinical and Experimental Research in Vascular Biology (BioVasc), Biomedical Center, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Belmiro Freitas
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: de Salles
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simão
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Martim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bottaro
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Willardson
mesh_terms: D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult