Rest-interval length affects leukocyte levels during heavy resistance exercise
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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
David L Mayhew1, John P Thyfault, Alexander J Koch
1Human Performance Laboratory, Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri 63501, USA.
Abstract:
We sought to determine the effect of varying rest intervals on leukocyte levels during heavy resistance exercise. Nine college men completed 2 exercise bouts of 10 sets of 10 repetitions at 65% 1 repetition maximum (1RM) leg press with 1- (1MIN) or 3-minute (3MIN) rest intervals, respectively. Blood collected at rest (PRE), immediately postexercise (POST), and 1.5 hours postexercise (1.5H) was analyzed for leukocyte levels. Data were analyzed using a 2 x 3 repeated measures analysis of variance. A greater PRE-POST lymphocytosis (+83% vs. +16%, p = 0.002) and monocytosis (+47% vs. +15%, p = 0.005) was observed following 1MIN vs. 3MIN. Serum creatine kinase (CK) activity was increased to a greater extent 24 h postexercise following the 1-minute rest protocol (p = 0.022). CK was correlated (r = 0.611) to the PRE-POST lymphocytosis. We conclude that short rest intervals increase the extent of postexercise lymphocytosis and monocytosis, when total work is kept constant.
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