The Acute Effect of Different Cluster Set Intra-Set Rest Interval Configurations on Mechanical Power Measures During...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Resistance Training

Background:

• Cluster sets (CS) involve intra-set rest periods to potentially improve performance.
• The optimal duration of intra-set rest in CS for flywheel resistance training is not well-established.
• Understanding these rest intervals is crucial for optimizing training protocols in field sport athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the acute effects of three cluster set (CS) intra-set rest intervals (15 s, 30 s, and 45 s).
• To evaluate the impact on mechanical performance during flywheel resistance training.
• To analyze performance in flywheel quarter-squat (QS) and Romanian deadlift (RDL) exercises.

Main Methods:

• Twelve amateur male field sport athletes participated in three separate measurement sessions.
• Exercises included flywheel quarter-squat (QS) and flywheel Romanian deadlift (RDL) with a 0.050 kg·m^-2 inertial load.
• Participants were randomly assigned to 15 s, 30 s, or 45 s intra-set rest durations within cluster sets (3+3+3 repetitions).

Main Results:

• Mean power (MP), peak concentric power (PP_con), peak eccentric power (PP_ecc), and eccentric overload (EO) were measured.
• Longer rest intervals (30 s and 45 s) yielded similar mechanical performance outcomes compared to each other.
• Compared to 15 s rests, 30 s and 45 s CS intra-set rest durations significantly increased MP, PP_con, and PP_ecc across sets 2-4 for both QS and RDL, and enhanced EO in the QS exercise.

Conclusions:

• Longer cluster set intra-set rest intervals (30-45 s) enhance mechanical performance measures in flywheel resistance training.
• Shorter intra-set rest intervals (15 s) may compromise power output during flywheel QS and RDL.
• Further research is warranted to explore the implications of these findings for longer-term training interventions.