The load-velocity profile differs more between men and women than between individuals with different strength levels |
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| Authors: | Alejandro Torrejón Carlos Balsalobre-Fernández G Gregory Haff |
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| Institution: | 1. Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Granada, Granada, Spain;2. Department of Physical Education, Sport and Human Movement, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain;3. Centre for Exercise and Sport Science Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia |
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| Abstract: | This study aimed to determine the suitability of the load-velocity relationship to prescribe the relative load (%1RM) in women, as well as to compare the load-velocity profile between sexes and participants with different strength levels. The load-velocity relationship of 14 men (1RM: 1.17 ± 0.19) and 14 women (1RM: 0.66 ± 0.13) were evaluated in the bench press exercise. The main findings revealed that: (I) the load-velocity relationship was always strong and linear (R2 range: 0.987–0.993), (II) a steeper load-velocity profile was observed in men compared to women (Effect size ES]: 1.09), with men showing higher velocities for light loads (ES: ? 0.81 and ? 0.40 for the y-intercept and 30%1RM, respectively), but women reporting higher velocities for the heavy loads (ES: 1.14 and 1.50 at 90%1RM and 100%1RM, respectively); and (III) while the slope of the load-velocity profile was moderately steeper for weak men compared to their strong counterpart (ES: 1.02), small differences were observed between strong and weak women (ES: ? 0.39). While these results support the use of the individual load-velocity relationship to prescribe the %1RM in the bench press exercise for women, they also highlight the large disparities in their load-velocity profile compared to men. |
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| Keywords: | Velocity-based resistance training one-repetition maximum relative load movement velocity bench press |
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