Abstract
2/2013
vol. 30
Original paper
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF REPETITIONS, TOTAL
WEIGHT LIFTED AND NEUROMUSCULAR
FATIGUE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT
TRAINING BACKGROUNDS
Biol. Sport 2013;30:131-136
Online publish date: 2014/07/22
The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance, as well as neuromuscular activity,
in a strength task in subjects with different training backgrounds. Participants (n = 26) were divided into three
groups according to their training backgrounds (aerobic, strength or mixed) and submitted to three sessions:
(1) determination of the maximum oxygen uptake during the incremental treadmill test to exhaustion and
familiarization of the evaluation of maximum strength (1RM) for the half squat; (2) 1RM determination; and
(3) strength exercise, four sets at 80% of the 1RM, in which the maximum number of repetitions (MNR),
the total weight lifted (TWL), the root mean square (RMS) and median frequency (MF) of the electromyographic
(EMG) activity for the second and last repetition were computed. There was an effect of group for MNR, with
the aerobic group performing a higher MNR compared to the strength group (P = 0.045), and an effect on MF
with a higher value in the second repetition than in the last repetition (P = 0.016). These results demonstrated
that individuals with better aerobic fitness were more fatigue resistant than strength trained individuals.
The absence of differences in EMG signals indicates that individuals with different training backgrounds have
a similar pattern of motor unit recruitment during a resistance exercise performed until failure, and that
the greater capacity to perform the MNR probably can be explained by peripheral adaptations.
in a strength task in subjects with different training backgrounds. Participants (n = 26) were divided into three
groups according to their training backgrounds (aerobic, strength or mixed) and submitted to three sessions:
(1) determination of the maximum oxygen uptake during the incremental treadmill test to exhaustion and
familiarization of the evaluation of maximum strength (1RM) for the half squat; (2) 1RM determination; and
(3) strength exercise, four sets at 80% of the 1RM, in which the maximum number of repetitions (MNR),
the total weight lifted (TWL), the root mean square (RMS) and median frequency (MF) of the electromyographic
(EMG) activity for the second and last repetition were computed. There was an effect of group for MNR, with
the aerobic group performing a higher MNR compared to the strength group (P = 0.045), and an effect on MF
with a higher value in the second repetition than in the last repetition (P = 0.016). These results demonstrated
that individuals with better aerobic fitness were more fatigue resistant than strength trained individuals.
The absence of differences in EMG signals indicates that individuals with different training backgrounds have
a similar pattern of motor unit recruitment during a resistance exercise performed until failure, and that
the greater capacity to perform the MNR probably can be explained by peripheral adaptations.
Keywords
electromyography, performance, strength
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