Effects of Knowledge of Total Set Volume on Bench Press Repetition Performance in Resistance-Trained Men

Abstract

Aim

Resistance training volume is one of the most important variables to induce muscular adaptations. However, high-volume training can be exhausting and cause prior knowledge of training volume in a session to negatively affect the total number of repetitions performed, thus reducing the overall training effect. This study was designed to determine the influence of prior knowledge of the number of sets to be performed on total training volume.

Methods

Eleven men with previous resistance training experience (≥12 months) performed six sets of bench press under three different conditions: a control trial (CL) where participants were informed that they would perform six sets and complete six sets; a deception trial (DC) where participants were informed they would perform three sets but had an additional three sets added after completing the first three sets, and an unknown trial (UN) in which participants received no information about how many sets would be performed but actually completed six sets. Conditions were randomized among all participants. All sets were performed to momentary concentric failure using 70% of one-repetition maximum.

Results

Results showed no significant difference among the three conditions for the total number of repetitions (CL=62.4±8.5, DC=61.1±13.2, UN=62.2±2.8, P=0 .94).

Conclusion

These results suggest that prior knowledge of the number of sets to be performed in a training session has no significant effect on total training volume achieved in resistance-trained men.

Keywords

Resistance training / Volume / Strength / Performance / Fatigue

References

[1] ACSM. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(7):1510–30. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181a0c95c.

[2] ACSM. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687–708. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181915670.

[3] Baden DA, McLean TL, Tucker R, Noakes TD, St Clair Gibson A. Effect of anticipation during unknown or unexpected exercise duration on rating of perceived exertion, affect, and physiological function. Br J Sports Med. 2005;39(10):742–6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2004.016980.

[4] Billaut F, Bishop DJ, Schaerz S, Noakes TD. Influence of knowledge of sprint number on pacing during repeated-sprint exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(4):665–72. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181f6ee3b.

[5] Cadore EL, Pinto RS, Bottaro M, Izquierdo M. Strength and endurance training prescription in healthy and frail elderly. Aging Dis. 2014, 5(3): 183-195

[6] Edwards AM, Noakes TD. Dehydration: cause of fatigue or sign of pacing in elite soccer?. Sports Med. 2009, 39(1): 1-13

[7] Ferraz R, Gonçalves B, Coutinho D, Marinho DA, Sampaio J, Marques MC. Pacing behaviour of players in team sports: Influence of match status manipulation and task duration knowledge. PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0192399. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192399.

[8] Ferraz R, Gonçalves B, Van Den Tillaar R, Jiménez Sáiz S, Sampaio J, Marques MC. Effects of knowing the task duration on players' pacing patterns during soccer small-sided games. J Sports Sci. 2018, 36(1): 116-122

[9] Gabbett TJ, Walker B, Walker S. Influence of prior knowledge of exercise duration on pacing strategies during game-based activities. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2015, 10(3): 298-304

[10] Garber CE, Blissmer B, Deschenes MR, Franklin BA, Lamonte MJ, Lee IM, Nieman DC, Swain DP, American College of Sports Medicine. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(7):1334–59. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e318213fefb.

[11] Gibson SC, A., Lambert, E. V., Rauch, L. H., Tucker, R., Baden, D. A., Foster, C., & Noakes, T. D.. The role of information processing between the brain and peripheral physiological systems in pacing and perception of effort. Sports Med. 2006, 36(8): 705-722

[12] Marcora S. Perception of effort during exercise is independent of afferent feedback from skeletal muscles, heart, and lungs. J Appl Physiol. 2009;106(6):2060–2. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.90378.2008.

[13] Millet GY. Can neuromuscular fatigue explain running strategies and performance in ultra-marathons?: the flush model. Sports Med. 2011, 41(6): 489-506

[14] Moran-Navarro R, Perez CE, Mora-Rodriguez R, de la Cruz-Sanchez E, Gonzalez-Badillo JJ, Sanchez-Medina L, Pallares JG. Time course of recovery following resistance training leading or not to failure. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2017;117(12):2387–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3725-7.

[15] Ralston GW, Kilgore L, Wyatt FB, Baker JS. The effect of weekly set volume on strength gain: a meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2017;47(12):2585–601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0762-7.

[16] Ribeiro AS, Nascimento MA, Mayhew JL, Ritti-Dias RM, Avelar A, Okano AH, Cyrino ES. Reliability of 1RM test in detrained men with previous resistance training experience. Isokinet Exerc Sci. 2014, 22: 137-143

[17] Ritti-Dias RM, Cyrino ES, Salvador EP, Caldeira LFS, Nakamura FY, Papst RR, Bruna N, Gurjão ALD. Influence of familiarization process on muscular strength assessment in 1-RM tests. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2005, 11(1): 39-42

[18] Schoenfeld BJ, Contreras B, Krieger J, Grgic J, Delcastillo K, Belliard R, Alto A. Resistance training volume enhances muscle hypertrophy but not strength in trained men. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019;51(1):94–103. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001764.

[19] Schoenfeld BJ, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Dose-response relationship between weekly resistance training volume and increases in muscle mass: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sports Sci. 2017;35(11):1073–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1210197.

[20] Steele J, Fisher J, Giessing J, Gentil P. Clarity in reporting terminology and definitions of set endpoints in resistance training. Muscle Nerve. 2017, 56(3): 368-374

[21] Tucker R. The anticipatory regulation of performance: the physiological basis for pacing strategies and the development of a perception-based model for exercise performance. Br J Sports Med. 2009, 43(6): 392-400

[22] Vidacek S, Wishner J. Influence of expectation of task duration on efficiency of muscular activity. J Appl Psychol. 1971, 55(6): 564-569