Effect of different resistance exercise repetition velocities

Background: The excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) consists of the excess oxygen consumed above a resting state following exercise. Performance of resistance exercise can significantly disrupt the body’s homeostasis, with the EPOC being dependent on the specific combination of prescriptive variables. Presently, the effects of different repetition velocities on VO2 and caloric expenditure during and following resistance exercise bouts have not been completely elucidated. Objective: To examine the effect of different repetition velocities on EPOC and total energetic expenditure during and following resistance exercise bouts. Methods: Twenty women (34.6 ± 5.5 years; 159 ± 4.1 cm; 55.1 ± 3.4 kg; 24±2.5 kg/m-²; 18.9 ± 4.3 % body fat) performed two resistance exercise bouts that differed only in the velocity of repetitions: sequence 1 (SEQ1) involved 1 second concentric and eccentric phases and sequence 2 (SEQ2) involved 2 second concentric and eccentric phases. Both bouts utilized a 70% of 1-RM load for all exercises, performed for 3 sets of 10 repetitions. The respired gas analysis was assessed before, during, and for 60 minutes following each bout. Results: None of the variables assessed (i.e. VO2, VCO2, VE/VO2, VE/ VCO2, VE, RQ) were significantly different between bouts (p > 0.05). Conclusion: A relatively slower repetition velocity will produce similar energy expenditure during and following resistance exercise as a relatively faster repetition velocity, as long as the total volume is equal between resistance exercise bouts.