RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VELOCITY AND REPETITIONS IN RESERVE IN THE BACK SQUAT, BENCH PRESS, AND DEADLIFT

This study examined the relationship between average concentric velocity (ACV) and repetitions in reserve (RIR) in the back squat, bench press, and deadlift. Fourteen resistance-trained men performed three experimental sessions (one for each exercise), which was comprised of 4 sets to failure at 80% of one-repetition maximum. The ACV was recorded on every repetition of every set and cross-referenced with RIR. The main findings of this study were that RIR was a significant predictor of ACV for all three exercises; the mean set ACV was significantly different between exercises (p<0.001); and the relationship between RIR and ACV was set-dependent (p<0.001). However, the within-exercise difference in ACV from set-to-set is unlikely to be practically significant as all of these ACV differences were below the threshold of 0.06 m.s-1, which is the smallest worthwhile change in ACV. Therefore, these results suggest that the RIR/ACV relationship is exercise-specific, and is stable from set-to-set.