RESEARCH ARTICLE


Muscle Mass and Training Status Do Not Affect the Maximum Number of Repetitions in Different Upper-Body Resistance Exercises



Rodrigo Ferrari1, *, Gabriela Kothe1, Martim Bottaro2, Eduardo Lusa Cadore1, Luiz Fernando Martins Kruel1
1 Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2 University of Brasília, Brasília.DF, Brazil


Article Metrics

CrossRef Citations:
3
Total Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 1307
Abstract HTML Views: 844
PDF Downloads: 441
ePub Downloads: 422
Total Views/Downloads: 3014
Unique Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 679
Abstract HTML Views: 443
PDF Downloads: 289
ePub Downloads: 266
Total Views/Downloads: 1677



Creative Commons License
© 2017 Ferrari et al.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, 21301 – LaFiEx, CEP: 96055-630 – Porto Alegre,RS, Brazil; Tel: +5551 9604-0583; Fax: +5551 3334-6462; E-mail: rod.ferrari84@gmail.com


Abstract

Background:

Data investigating the factors that influence the relationship between different percentages of one repetition maximum (1RM) and the maximum number of repetitions (RM’s) performed are scarce when the movement velocity of each repetition is controlled during the RM’s test.

Objective:

To evaluate the RM’s performed at 60, 75, and 90% of 1RM in 4 different upper-body free weight exercises: bench press, barbell triceps extension, unilateral dumbbell elbow flexion, unilateral bent knee dumbbell row.

Method:

Thirty participants, 15 trained (T) and 15 untrained (UT) men, volunteered to participate in this study and attended six separate occasions, each separated by at least 48 h. In the first three sessions, familiarization and 1RM tests were evaluated. The last three sessions were designed to assess the performance of the RM’s at 60%, 75%, and 90% 1RM. The exercise order and intensities performed in each session were randomized. Muscle action velocity for each repetition was controlled by an electronic metronome.

Results:

There was no significant difference between T and UT in any of the exercises at a given exercise intensity. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the number of repetitions performed when exercises with different muscle mass (i.e., bench press vs. triceps extension, and dumbbell row vs. elbow flexion) at different intensities (i.e., 60%, 75%, and 90%) were compared.

Conclusion:

Using the same percentage of 1RM, the participants performed a similar number of repetitions in the four free weight upper-body exercises evaluated.

Keywords: Strength training, Dose-response, Intensity, Load, Exercise prescription, One repetition maximum.