Repetitions in Reserve and Rate of Perceived Exertion Increase the Prediction Capabilities of the Load-Velocity Relationship

• Carlos Balsalobre Fernández ; Mario Muñoz López ^[1] ; David Marchante ^[1] ; Amador García Ramos
  1. [1] Department of Research and Development, PowerExplosive Center, Madrid, Spain
• Localización: Journal of strength and conditioning research: the research journal of the NSCA, ISSN 1064-8011, Vol. 35, Nº. 3, 2021, págs. 724-730
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • This study aimed to (a) analyze the relationships between relative load (i.e., %1 repetition maximum; 1RM) and movement velocity, repetitions in reserve (RIR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) in competitive powerlifters and (b) examine whether a multiple linear regression model with the movement velocity, RIR, and RPE as predictor variables could improve the goodness of fit of the load-velocity relationship. Ten competitive powerlifters performed an incremental loading test (from 50 to 100% 1RM) on the full-squat, hip-thrust, and bench press exercises. Barbell velocity was measured using a linear position transducer, while RIR and RPE were registered immediately after each set. Velocity (r2: 0.747-0.887), RIR (r2: 0.857-0.928), and RPE (r2: 0.908-0.933) were moderately to highly related to relative load. A higher amount of variance of the relative load was explained when the RIR and RPE were added to velocity in a multiple regression model in comparison with the load-velocity relationship (r2: 0.924-0.947). Moreover, it was observed that, in all cases, individual load-velocity, load-RIR, and load-RPE relationships had higher r2 scores than the generalized load-velocity relationship. Incorporating the RIR and RPE as predictors of the relative load along with movement velocity into a multiple linear regression was shown to provide better estimations of the %1RM than using a linear load-velocity relationship.