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Comparison of muscle activity and tissue oxygenation during strength training protocols that differ by their organisation, rest interval between sets, and volume

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Abstract

Purpose

The acute effects of a single training session on muscle activity and oxygenation were compared between a new strength training method (3/7 protocol) and a more classical method (4 × 6 and 8 × 6 protocols).

Method

All protocols consisted of lifting and lowering a load (70 % 1RM) with the elbow-flexor muscles. The 3/7 protocol involved 5 sets of increasing number of repetitions during successive sets (from 3 to 7 repetitions), and brief rest interval between sets (15 s). The other two protocols consisted of either 4 or 8 sets of 6 repetitions with a rest interval between sets of 2.5 min. Surface electromyogram (EMG) of biceps brachii, brachioradialis, and triceps brachii, and tissue oxygenation index (TOI) of the two elbow flexors were recorded.

Result

For all muscles, EMG increased similarly (50–60 %) during each set in the 4 × 6 and 8 × 6 protocols but gradually during the successive sets in the 3/7 protocol. At protocol completion, EMG reached greater value (p < 0.003) in the 3/7 protocol. TOI decreased during each set in all protocols but contrary to 4 × 6 and 8 × 6 protocols, it did not return to resting values between sets in the 3/7 protocol. The deficit in TOI per repetition was greater (p < 0.001) in the 3/7 (−142.5 ± 48.8 %) than 4 × 6 (−113.1 ± 48.8 %) and 8 × 6 (−105.9 ± 59.2 %) protocols for biceps brachii but not brachioradialis.

Conclusion

The results indicate that brief rest interval between sets and incremental number of repetitions in successive sets induced greater muscle activity and metabolic changes compared with method of constant repetitions per set and longer rest interval.

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Abbreviations

1RM:

One repetition maximum

EMG:

Electromyography

TOI:

Tissue oxygenation index

NIRS:

Near-infrared spectroscopy

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

nTHI:

Normalised index of total haemoglobin

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

aEMG:

Average electromyogram

ATP:

Adenosine triphosphate

PCr:

Phosphoryl creatine

Pi:

Inorganic phosphate

ADP:

Adenosine diphosphate

AMP:

Adenosine monophosphate

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Acknowledgments

Félix Penzer is financially supported by a grant of the Sport Ministry of Wallonia-Brussels Federation of Belgium (Centre d’Aide à la Performance Sportive).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre d’Aide à la Performance Sportive (CAPS), CP 640, 808 route de Lennik, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Félix Penzer & Jacques Duchateau

  2. Laboratory of Applied Biology and Neurophysiology, Faculty for Motor Sciences, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 808 route de Lennik, CP 640, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Félix Penzer, Alexis Cabrol, Stéphane Baudry & Jacques Duchateau

Authors
  1. Félix Penzer
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  2. Alexis Cabrol
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  3. Stéphane Baudry
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  4. Jacques Duchateau
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Correspondence to Jacques Duchateau.

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Communicated by Olivier Seynnes.

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Penzer, F., Cabrol, A., Baudry, S. et al. Comparison of muscle activity and tissue oxygenation during strength training protocols that differ by their organisation, rest interval between sets, and volume. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 1795–1806 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3433-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3433-8

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