The Effect of Rest Intervals Length on Bench Press Performance Trained Student in Consecutive Sets

The ability of generate maximal muscular force and perform a higher volume of training is dependent upon rest interval length between sets. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of three different rest intervals on bench press performance in four consecutive sets with 90% 1RM in trained student. For this reason, 17 trained students of Guilan University (aged 21/92±1/89 years; height 176/53 ± 4/50 cm; and weight 76/98 ± 5/95 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. All subjects performed four testing sessions of bench press with 48 hours recovery period between sessions. In the first session, one repetition maximum (1RM) was measured. During each test session subjects performed four sets of bench press with a 90% 1RM up to voluntary exhaustionwith a 90, 150, and 240 sec rest intervals between sets. For statistical analysis of data, two-way repeated measures and LSD post hoc were used. In all of three rest intervals, there were significant differences in the percentage of repetition completed between the first set and each subsequent set there after. Bench press performance in 240 sec rest interval was significantly higher than 150 and 90 sec. bench press performance in 150sec rest interval was also significantly higher than 90 sec. The ability to sustain repetitions while keeping the intensity constant may result in a higher training volume and consequently better results in muscular strength. When training goal is maximal strength development, 240 seconds of rest should be taken between sets to sustain repetition in consecutive sets.