Acute effects of different set configurations during a strength-oriented resistance training session on barbell velocity and the force–velocity relationship in resistance-trained males and females

Purpose This study explored the acute effects of strength-oriented resistance training sessions performed using three different set configurations on barbell velocity and the force–velocity (F–v) relationship of upper-body muscles in men and women. Method Thirteen men (age: 23.8 ± 2.5 years; 6-repetition maximum [6RM] load: 73.4 ± 15.6 kg) and 13 women (age: 21.5 ± 1.4 years; 6RM load: 32.8 ± 5.2 kg) performed 24 repetitions with a 6RM load during the bench press exercise using traditional (TR: 6 sets of 4 repetitions with 3 min of rest between sets), cluster (CL: 6 sets of 4 repetitions with 15 s of intra-set rest every two repetitions and 2 min and 45 s of rest between sets) and inter-repetition rest (IRR: 1 set of 24 repetitions with 39 s of rest between repetitions) set configurations. The F–v relationship parameters [maximum force ( F 0 ), maximum velocity ( v 0 ) and maximum power ( P max )] were determined before and after each training session. Results The average training velocity did not differ between the three set configurations ( p = 0.234), but the IRR set configuration generally provided higher velocities during the last repetition of each set. Significant decreases in F 0 ( p = 0.001) and P max ( p = 0.024) but not in v 0 ( p = 0.669) were observed after the training sessions. Comparable velocity loss was observed for men and women (− 12.1% vs. − 11.3%; p = 0.699). Conclusions The administration of very short intra-set rest periods does not allow for the attainment of higher velocities than traditional set configurations during strength-oriented resistance training sessions conducted with the bench press exercise when the work-to-rest ratio is equated.