Acute fatigue, and perceptual responses to resistance exercise

Abstract

Introduction: Despite assumptions, there is an absence of research on acute fatigue responses to high- and low-load and advanced technique resistance exercise. Methods: Trained males (n = 8; age 27.2 ± 7.4 years, height 180.0 ± 6.6 cm, weight: 86.6 ± 10.3 kg) were assessed for decrement in maximal voluntary isometric torque (MVIT) and perceived effort and discomfort after heavier load (HL; 80% MVIT), lighter load (LL; 30% MVIT), forced repetition (FR), and breakdown set (BD) training protocols. Results: Analyses revealed a significant reduction in MVIT (P < 0.05) with a significant between-condition effect, and significant post-hoc pairwise comparisons between LL and both HL (P = 0.044) and FR (P = 0.013). There were no significant between-condition effects for effort or discomfort (P > 0.05). Discussion: Fatigue as a decrement in force production appears to follow a more complex relationship than simply 100% minus the force requirements of the task relative to a maximal voluntary contraction. Muscle Nerve 56: E141–E146, 2017.