Acute Effects of Rest Redistribution Training on Physical and Physiological Responses in Anxious Female College...

(1) Background: This study compares the immediate effects of Rest Redistribution Training (RR) and Traditional Set Structure Training (TS) on vertical jump performance, heart rate variability (HRV), and perceived exertion (RPE) in anxious female college students. (2) Methods: In a randomized experimental design, 14 anxious female college students (ages 18-25, screened via Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) with scores ≥50) underwent a familiarization session followed by two trials involving either a RR or TS conditioning routine. Vertical jump, HRV, and RPE were measured pre- and post-session, and during training, respectively. (3) Results: Both protocols induced significant decrements in squat jump (SJs) and countermovement jump (CMJs) metrics (p < 0.05), but no statistically significant between-group differences emerged (p > 0.05; SJ height: d = 0.059, 95% CI [-0.05, 0.05]; CMJ peak power: d = 0.253, 95% CI [-0.02, 0.02]). TS induced significant decreases in time-domain HRV indices (SDNN: d = 0.888, 95% CI [1.07, 16.13; RMSSD: d = 1.511, 95% CI [8.87, 27.63]) and high-frequency power (HF: d = 0.788, 95% CI [2.73, 379.71]), whereas RR preserved these indices. RR significantly reduced RPE compared to TS (p < 0.05; barbell bench press: d = 1.132, 95% CI [0.28, 1.48]; leg press: d = 0.784, 95% CI [0.01, 1.31]). (4) Conclusions: RR and TS protocols induced comparable decrements in vertical jump performance among untrained anxious female college students under equivalent loads; however, RR demonstrated superior autonomic regulation, reduced perceived fatigue, and equivalent performance outcomes, highlighting its potential as a low-stress alternative to traditional resistance training for anxiety-prone populations.