Methods to Assess Energy Expenditure of Resistance Exercise: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Accurate nutrition guidance for athletes requires understanding energy expenditure, influenced by training methods like resistance exercise.
• Quantifying energy expenditure during resistance exercise is complex due to significant anaerobic metabolism contributions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of methods used to assess energy expenditure during resistance exercise.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (Medline, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Web of Science).
• Included studies assessing resistance exercise energy expenditure were quality appraised using the Rosendal Scale.

Main Results:

• 166 studies were included from an initial 19,867, assessing energy expenditure via indirect calorimetry, blood lactate analysis, wearable monitors, and metabolic equivalents.
• Energy expenditure values varied widely, with indirect calorimetry being the most frequently used method.

Conclusions:

• Indirect calorimetry is prevalent but has limitations in quantifying glycolytic energy contribution.
• Combining indirect calorimetry with blood lactate measures may offer a more comprehensive assessment of total energy expenditure.
• While indirect calorimetry is lab-based, metabolic equivalents may be more practical for assessing energy expenditure outside the laboratory.