Comparing the Resistance Training Stimuli Using Velocity Feedback or Perceived Exertion in Bench Press

Naclerio, F, Larumbe-Zabala, E, Chapman, M, Gonzales-Frutos, P, and Triplett, NT. Comparing the resistance training stimuli using velocity feedback or perceived exertion in bench press. J Strength Cond Res 39(4): 399-406, 2025-We compared the velocity feedback method (VEL) vs. the perceptual response (RPE), with no velocity feedback, to estimate changes in movement velocity during continuous sets terminated at 10, 20, and 40% of velocity decreases in the bench press exercise using either 50% or 75% of the 1 repetition maximum (1RM). After 5 sessions of familiarization and determining the 1RM, 19 males (24.5 ± 6 years) and 9 females (30.4 ± 8 years) underwent 2 identical 6-day testing sessions over 2 weeks (12 days in total) using the VEL (first 6 sessions) or the RPE method (last 6 sessions). The average velocity and the OMNI Perceived Exertion Scale for Resistance Exercise (OMNI-RES) (0-10) scale score were measured for every repetition of each set. Under VEL, the sets terminated after completing 2 consecutive repetitions below the pre-established velocity threshold. During RPE, the sets stopped when the subjects reached a previously obtained OMNI-RES score linked to the specific tested velocity thresholds. A linear mixed-effects model setting velocity thresholds, method, and their interaction as fixed effects and subjects as random components was conducted. No differences (p > 0.05) between methods were observed for the absolute (m·s-1) and percentage of velocity decreases or the total number of repetitions using both 50 and 75% of 1RM. Nonetheless, compared with VEL, fewer repetitions (p < 0.01) linked to nondesirable neuromuscular adaptations were completed under RPE. In conclusion, although no differences between methods for estimating changes in velocity were identified, the RPE could be preferable to the VEL method to reduce the number of repetitions performed under the prescribed threshold.