Perceived Exertion Is Affected by the Submaximal Set Configuration Used in Resistance Exercise

Mayo, X, Iglesias-Soler, E, and Kingsley, JD. Perceived exertion is affected by the submaximal set configuration used in resistance exercise. J Strength Cond Res 33(2): 426-432, 2019-Previously, perceived exertion in submaximal resistance exercise protocols was reported to be affected by the intensity of load followed by work-to-rest ratio. Nevertheless, the effect of set configuration, which entails the metabolic, hormonal, and neuromuscular implication of the session, is currently unknown, despite the fact that perceived exertion discriminates these differences. We aimed to analyze the effect of 3 submaximal set configurations on perceived exertion and their relationship with velocity as a mechanical measure of fatigue. Seventeen healthy subjects (23 ± 2 years) performed with the 10-repetition maximum load on the leg press (211 ± 45 kg) a total of 40 repetitions with 720 seconds of rest in 3 randomized experimental sessions with the same work-to-rest ratio. The sessions consisted of an interrepetition rest design performing individual repetitions, a cluster design performing groups of 4 repetitions, and a traditional design performing groups of 8 repetitions. At the end of the session, the nonparametric analysis of variance-type test revealed differences between protocols (p < 0.001), with lower values of perceived exertion in the interrepetition rest design in comparison with the cluster design (p = 0.003) and traditional design (p < 0.001). In addition, Spearman's rank correlations (p < 0.001) were observed for the interrepetition rest design (rho = -0.72) and traditional design (rho = -0.8) between perceived exertion and velocity. Our findings suggest that the submaximal set configuration is a determinant of perceived exertion by itself, and that perceived exertion represents similar mechanisms as velocity, such as fatigue and certain characteristics of the session and the individual.