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Resistance exercise inter-set cooling strategy: effect on performance and muscle damage.
Pedro Galoza1, Felipe Sampaio-Jorge, Marco Machado
1Laboratory of Human Movement Studies, University Foundation of Itaperuna, Itaperuna, Brazil.
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
|September 24, 2011
Summary
Applying inter-set cooling during resistance exercise (RE) increased repetitions by 21% without elevating muscle damage biomarkers. This strategy enhances workout volume safely.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Muscle Physiology
Background:
- Resistance exercise (RE) is crucial for muscle strength and hypertrophy.
- Optimizing RE protocols to maximize performance and minimize fatigue is an ongoing area of research.
- Inter-set rest strategies can influence training outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of inter-set cooling on total repetitions during RE.
- To compare muscle damage biomarker responses between cooling and no-cooling conditions.
- To determine if external cooling affects performance and muscle damage markers.
Main Methods:
- Sixteen healthy men were randomized into Cooling and Control groups.
- Participants performed four sets of biceps curls to fatigue at 80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM).
- The Cooling group received ice application during rest intervals; the Control group did not.
Main Results:
- The Cooling group performed approximately 21% more repetitions than the Control group.
- No significant differences were observed in serum creatine kinase (CK) activity between groups.
- Myoglobin concentration responses also showed no significant differences between the Cooling and Control groups.
Conclusions:
- Inter-set external cooling can enhance the number of repetitions achieved during resistance exercise.
- This cooling strategy does not appear to increase markers of muscle damage.
- External cooling may be a viable method to augment training volume in resistance exercise protocols.
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