Effect of different recovery methods in strength training on performance and perceived exertion

Abstract

Objective: The study verified the acute influences of distinct recovery methods between sets on repetition performance and rate of perceived effort.

Method: Twenty six trained men (20.61±2.95 years; 73.72±5.91kg; 175.00±5.14cm; 9.54±3.86 %Fat) performed test and re-test of ten Repetitions Maxims, on non-consecutive days, for the bench press exercise. Four sets of ten Repetitions Maxims on bench press were performed with two minutes of rest between sets for distinct recovery methods: passive recovery and active recovery (run performed on a treadmill at 45% of maximum oxygen consumption).

Results: No differences were found between the passive recovery (25.50±3.13) and the active recovery (26.07±2.46) for the total number of completed repetitions (p=0.181). Additionally, the area under the curve did not shown any difference between passive recovery (47.05±6.98reps/min) and active recovery (48.03±5.46reps/min). Important reductions were observed for each subsequent set for both recoveries methods (p=0.0001). The perceived effort data shown important increase from the second set for passive recovery (p=0.0001) and active recovery (p=0.001).

Conclusion: No differences were observed between different recovery methods.