Time-Course of Performance Recovery During Repeated Sets of Bench Press Exercise: A Modeling Approach

Panagiotopoulos, MG, Tsoukos, A, Tsolakis, C, Terzis, G, and Bogdanis, GC. Time-course of performance recovery during repeated sets of bench press exercise: a modeling approach. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2025-We examined the influence of selected performance and physiologic parameters on the time-course of mean barbell velocity recovery during repeated sets of bench press exercise. Thirteen resistance-trained men (25.0 ± 6.3 years) participated in this study. Preliminary measurements included bench press strength (1 repetition maximum [1RM]; 95.0 ± 17.4 kg), maximum theoretical velocity (Vo: 2.03 ± 0.16 m·s-1), and optimal load determination (56.3 ± 1.4% of 1RM), through a load-velocity test on a Smith machine. Also, the rate of barbell velocity decline was calculated during a bench press test to exhaustion performed as fast as possible against the optimal load (maximum number of repetitions [MNR]slope: -0.026 ± 0.006 m·s-1·rep-1). Maximum aerobic power (104.6 ± 18.1 W), blood lactate threshold, and heart rate recovery were determined using an incremental arm cranking test to exhaustion. Each of the 5 main sessions included four 10 seconds bench press sets performed as fast as possible against the optimal load, with rest intervals between sets ranging from 30 seconds to 5 minutes in a random and counterbalanced order. We calculated the percentage of mean barbell velocity recovery between the first 2 sets for each rest interval (30 seconds-5 minutes). The restoration of mean barbell velocity was modeled using a power curve to assess the individual recovery rate. This analysis showed that the time needed to regain 95% of performance from the first to the second set was mainly influenced by MNRslope and Vo (R2 = 0.68, p < 0.01). When a neural network approach was used, the accuracy of prediction improved significantly (R2 = 0.90-0.99). In summary, MNRslope and Vo may be used for estimating an individual's recovery ability and for determining optimal rest intervals in explosive bench press training.