Decline in Unintentional Lifting Velocity Is Both Load and Exercise Specific

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Velocity-based training (VBT) often uses a threshold in mean concentric velocity (MCV) decline to determine repetition limits.
• The specificity of MCV decline to different exercises and loads is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the decline in MCV between the overhead press (OHP) and deadlift (DL).
• To investigate the effect of different relative loads (70% and 90% of 1RM) on MCV decline during fatiguing sets.

Main Methods:

• Thirty resistance-trained individuals performed OHP and DL to volitional fatigue at 70% and 90% of their 1RM.
• Mean concentric velocity (MCV) was measured for each repetition using an open barbell system.
• Absolute and relative MCV decline were calculated and compared between exercises and loads.

Main Results:

• The absolute MCV decline was greatest in the 70% OHP condition, followed by 90% OHP, 70% DL, and 90% DL.
• A greater relative MCV decline was observed for the OHP compared to the DL (50.1% vs. 28.5%).
• Higher relative loads (90% 1RM) resulted in a smaller relative MCV decline compared to lower loads (70% 1RM).

Conclusions:

• The decline in MCV during resistance training is exercise-specific and load-specific.
• Implementing a universal velocity loss threshold for VBT may lead to inconsistent training volumes across different exercises and loads.
• Individualized velocity thresholds may be necessary for optimizing training prescription in VBT.