Comparison Of Velocity-based And Traditional Resistance Exercise Training

INTRODUCTION: Velocity-based resistance exercise (RE) training (VBT) is a new style of RE that uses monitoring technology to measure movement velocity in order to regulate RE training, based on movement velocity changes. PURPOSE: Compare the effects of 4 weeks (8 sessions) of VBT and Traditional RE training (Trad) on muscular strength, endurance, total load (TL), total RE time (TT), concentric movement velocity (CMV) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). METHODS: 18 males (age 21.7 ± 1.1 yrs) and 20 females (age 20.9 ± 0.7 yrs) were randomly assigned to VBT or Trad groups. Pre and Post-training tests included 1RM right leg, single-leg, leg extension (SL-LE), anthropometry and submaximal RE SL-LE tests to failure (at 60, 75, 90% 1RM). All Ss completed 4 weeks, 2 sessions/week, SL-LE training sessions. During training, VBT completed 3 sets until CMV (for each set) decreased by 20% for two consecutive reps, while Trad completed 3 sets to failure, regardless of CMV. Resistance was progressively increased throughout training. An ultrasound sensor, NI-cRIO and custom-built software (NI-LabView) was used to monitor/record/store data. A 2 (Grp) X 2 (Sex) multivariate ANOVA with Repeated Measures was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Across training, TL (kg) (11167 ± 3260 VBT; 12305 ± 5030 Trad), TT (s) (429.6 ± 53.8 VBT; 521.7 ± 70 Trad) and RPE (8.3 ± 0.4 VBT; 9.2 ± 0.6 Trad) for both sexes combined, were significantly lower for VBT (p < 0.05). Following training, both groups and sexes exhibited similar and significant improvements (p < 0.05) in muscular strength (17.4 ± 9.2% VBT; 14.6 ± 10.6% Trad) and endurance (increased # reps) at 60% (4.9 ± 4.3 VBT; 3.8 ± 5.3 Trad), 75% (3.21 ± 3.5 VBT; 3.5 ± 3.0 Trad) and 90% (3.9 ± 3.9 VBT; 3.4 ± 3.9 Trad) 1RM. VBT exhibited significantly faster CMV at 75% Peak (0.42 ± 0.08 m/s VBT; 0.35 ± 0.04 m/s Trad) and 90% Av (0.23 ± 0.05 m/s VBT; 0.19 ± 0.04 m/s Trad) and Peak (0.36 ± 0.1 m/s VBT; 0.27 ± 0.06 m/s Trad) (p < 0.05). There were no significant group*sex interactions. CONCLUSION: VBT resulted in similar significant increases in muscular strength and endurance and greater increases in CMV at submaximal loads, all while exhibiting significantly lower TT, TL and RPE during RE training, and these changes occurred for females and males, similarly.