The Effect of Rest Redistribution on Kinetic and Kinematic Variables During the Countermovement Shrug

Abstract Meechan, D, McMahon, JJ, Suchomel, TJ, and Comfort, P. The effect of rest redistribution on kinetic and kinematic variables during the countermovement shrug. J Strength Cond Res 37(7): 1358–1366, 2023—This study compared the effects of rest redistribution (RR) on kinetic and kinematic variables during the countermovement shrug (CMS). Twenty-one male subjects (age 27.2 ± 3.3. years, height 1.78 ± 0.07 m, body mass 77.2 ± 10.6 kg, relative 1 repetition maximum (1RM) power clean [PC] 1.22 ± 0.16 kg·kg −1 ) performed the CMS using 140% of 1RM PC with 3 traditional sets of 6 repetitions (TS), 9 sets of 2 repetitions with RR [45 s rest after 2 repetitions] (RR 45 ), and 6 sets of 3 repetitions with RR [72 s rest after 3 repetitions] (RR 72 ). There were no significant or meaningful differences ( p > 0.05, g = 0.00–0.15) between set configurations for any variables for the average of the 18 repetitions. There were no significant ( p > 0.05) or meaningful ( g = 0.00–0.14) differences for configuration and configuration × set for peak (PF) and mean force (MF), peak velocity (PV), impulse, phase duration, peak velocity decline, peak velocity maintenance, and rating of perceived exertion. There was significantly greater ( p = 0.034) albeit small ( g = 0.15) difference for mean velocity (MV) during TS compared with RR 72. There were no significant or meaningful differences ( p > 0.05, g = 0.00–0.09) between sets for PF, MF, PV, MV, impulse, and duration across TS, RR 45 , and RR 72. Rest redistribution protocols did not result in greater kinetics or kinematics during the CMS compared with TS, when total rest time was equated. Thus, shorter more frequent rest periods during the CMS may not be required to maintain force-time characteristics.