Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Sports Medicine
Published in: Sports Medicine 12/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Systematic Review

The Acute Neuromuscular Responses to Cluster Set Resistance Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Authors: Christopher Latella, Wei-Peng Teo, Eric J. Drinkwater, Kristina Kendall, G. Gregory Haff

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 12/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Cluster sets (CSs) are a popular resistance training (RT) strategy categorised by short rest periods implemented between single or groups of repetitions. However, evidence supporting the effectiveness of CSs on acute intra-session neuromuscular performance is still equivocal.

Objective

The objective of this investigation was to determine the efficacy of a single session of CSs to attenuate losses in force, velocity and power compared to traditional set (TS) training.

Methods

Screening consisted of a systematic search of EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and SPORTDiscus. Inclusion criteria were (1) measured one or more of mean/peak force, velocity or power; (2) implemented CSs in comparison to TSs; (3) an acute design, or part thereof; and (4) published in an English-language, peer-reviewed journal. Raw data (mean ± standard deviation) were extracted from included studies and converted into standardised mean differences (SMDs) and ± 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Twenty-five studies were used to calculate SMD ± 95% CI. Peak (SMD = 0.815, 95% CI 0.105–1.524, p = 0.024) and mean (SMD = 0.863, 95% CI 0.319–1.406, p = 0.002) velocity, peak (SMD = 0.356, 95% CI 0.057–0.655, p = 0.019) and mean (SMD = 0.692, 95% CI 0.395–0.990, p < 0.001) power, and peak force (SMD = 0.306, 95% CI − 0.028 to 0.584, p = 0.031) favoured CS. Subgroup analyses demonstrated an overall effect for CS across loads (SMD = 0.702, 95% CI 0.548–0.856, p < 0.001), included exercises (SMD = 0.664, 95% CI 0.413–0.916, p < 0.001), experience levels (SMD = 0.790, 95% CI 0.500–1.080, p < 0.001) and CS structures (SMD = 0.731, 95% CI 0.567–0.894, p < 0.001) with no difference within subgroups.

Conclusion

CSs are a useful strategy to attenuate the loss in velocity, power and peak force during RT and should be used to maintain neuromuscular performance, especially when kinetic outcomes are emphasised. However, it remains unclear if the benefits translate to improved performance across all RT exercises, between sexes and across the lifespan.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Cronin J, Sleivert G. Challenges in understanding the influence of maximal power training on improving athletic performance. Sports Med. 2005;35(3):213–34.PubMed
2.
Faigenbaum AD, Myer GD. Resistance training among young athletes: safety, efficacy and injury prevention effects. Br J Sports Med. 2010;44:56–63.PubMed
3.
Suchomel TJ, Nimphius S, Stone MH. The importance of muscular strength in athletic performance. Sports Med. 2016;46:1419–49.PubMed
4.
Suchomel TJ, Mimphius S, Bellon CR, Stone MH. The importance of muscular strength: training considerations. Sports Med. 2018;48(4):765–85.PubMed
5.
Morrissey MC, Harman EA, Johnson MJ. Resistance training modes: specificity and effectiveness. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995;27(5):648–60.PubMed
6.
Pereira MI, Gomes PS. Movement velocity in resistance training. Sports Med. 2003;33(6):427–38.PubMed
7.
Crewther B, Cronin J, Keogh J. Possible stimuli for strength and power adaptation. Sports Med. 2005;35(11):967–89.PubMed
8.
DeLorme TA, Watkins AL. Technics of progressive resistance training. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1948;29:263–73.PubMed
9.
Todd JS, Shurley JP, Todd TC, Thomas L. DeLorme and the science of progressive resistance exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2012;26(11):2913–23.PubMed
10.
Ratamess NA, Alvar BA, Evetoch TK, Housh TJ, Kibler WB, Kraemer WJ, et al. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687–708.
11.
Schoenfeld BJ. The mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and their application to resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(10):2857–72.PubMed
12.
Schoenfeld BJ, Wilson JM, Lowery RP, Krieger JW. Muscular adaptations in low- versus high-load resistance training: a meta-analysis. Eur J Sport Sci. 2016;16(1):1–10.PubMed
13.
Campos GE, Luecke TJ, Wendeln HK, Toma K, Hagerman FC, Murray TF, et al. Muscular adaptations in response to three different resistance-training regimes: specificity of repetition maximum training zones. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2002;88(1–2):50–60.PubMed
14.
Bird SP, Tarpenning KM, Marino FE. Designing resistance training programmes to enhance muscular fitness: a review of the acute programme variables. Sports Med. 2005;35(10):841–51.PubMed
15.
Haff GG, Hobbs RT, Haff EE, Sands WA, Pierce KC, Stone MH. Cluster training: a novel method for introducing training program variation. Strength Cond J. 2008;30(1):67–76.
16.
Tufano JJ, Brown LE, Haff GG. Theoretical and practical aspects of different cluster set structures: a systematic review. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(3):848–67.PubMed
17.
Roll F, Omer J. Football: Tulane football winter program. Strength Cond J. 1987;9:34–8.
18.
Siff M, Verkhoshansky YU. Supertraining. 4th ed. Denver: Supertraining International; 1999.
19.
Haff GG, Whitley A, McCoy LB, O’Bryant HS, Kilgore JL, Haff EE, et al. Effects of different set configurations on barbell velocity and displacement during a clean pull. J Strength Cond Res. 2003;17(1):95–103.PubMed
20.
Haff GG, Burgess S, Stone MH. Cluster training: theoretical and practical applications for the strength and conditioning professional. Prof Strength Cond. 2008;12:12–7.
21.
Hardee JP, Triplett NT, Utter AC, Zwetsloot KA, McBride JM. Effect of interrepetition rest on power output in the power clean. J Strength Cond Res. 2012;26(4):883–9.PubMed
22.
Lawton TW, Cronin JB, Lindsell RP. Effect of interrepetition rest intervals on weight training repetition power output. J Strength Cond Res. 2006;20(1):172–6.PubMed
23.
Oliver JM, Kreutzer A, Jenke S, Phillips MD, Mitchell JB, Jones MT. Acute responses to cluster sets in trained and untrained men. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2015;115:2383–93.PubMed
24.
Joy JM, Oliver JM, McCleary SA, Lowery RP, Wilson JM. Power output and electromyography activity of the back squat exercise with cluster sets. J Sports Sci. 2013;1:37–45.
25.
Tufano JJ, Conlon JA, Mimphius S, Brown LE, Seitz LB, Williamson BD, et al. Maintenance of velocity and power with cluster sets during high volume back squats. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2016;11:885–92.PubMed
26.
Tufano JJ, Conlon JA, Nimphius S, Brown LE, Petkovic A, Frick J, et al. Effects of cluster sets and rest-redistribution on mechanical responses to back squats in trained men. J Hum Kinet. 2017;58:35–43.PubMedPubMedCentral
27.
Tufano JJ, Conlon JA, Nimphius S, Oliver JM, Kreutzer A, Haff GG. Different cluster sets result in similar metabolic, endocrine, and perceptual responses in trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2019;33(2):346–54.PubMed
28.
Zajac A, Chalimoniuk M, Maszczyk A, Golas A, Lngfort J. Central and peripheral fatigue during resistance exercise—a critical review. J Hum Kinet. 2015;49:159–69.PubMedPubMedCentral
29.
30.
31.
Sanchez-Medina L, Gonzalez-Badillo J. Velocity loss as an indicator of neuromuscular fatigue during resistance training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(9):1725–34.PubMed
32.
Asadi A, Ramirez-Campillo R. Effects of cluster vs traditional plyometric training sets on maximal-intensity exercise performance. Medicina (Kaunas). 2016;52:41–5.
33.
Nicholson G, Ispoglou T, Bissas A. The impact of repetition mechanics on the adaptations resulting from strength-, hypertrophy- and cluster-type resistance training. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2016;116:1875–88.PubMedPubMedCentral
34.
Yazdani S, Aminaei M, Amirseifadini M. Effects of plyometric and cluster resistance training on explosive power and maximum strength in karate players. Int J Appl Exerc Physiol. 2017;6(2):34–44.
35.
Schmid JE, Koch GG, LaVange LM. An overview of statistical issues and methods of meta-analysis. J Biopharm Stat. 1991;1(1):103–20.PubMed
36.
Wood JA. Methodology for dealing with duplicate study effects in a meta-analysis. Org Res Methods. 2008;11:79–95.
37.
Higgins JP, Thompson SG. Quantifying heterogeneity in a meta-analysis. Stat Med. 2002;21(11):1539–58.PubMed
38.
Egger M, Davey Smith G, Schneider M, Minder C. Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test. BMJ. 1997;315(7109):629–34.PubMedPubMedCentral
39.
Kummel J, Kramer A, Giboin LS, Gruber M. Specificity of balance training in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2016;46:1261–71.PubMed
40.
Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training; a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508–23.PubMed
41.
Boullosa DA, Abreu L, Beltrame LG, Behm DG. The acute effect of different half squat configurations on jump potentiation. J Strength Cond Res. 2013;27(8):2059–66.PubMed
42.
García-Ramos A, Nebot V, Padial P, Valverde-Esteve T, Pablos-Monzó A, Feriche B. Effects of short inter-repetition rest periods on power output losses during the half squat exercise. Isokinet Exerc Sci. 2016;1:1–8.
43.
Iglesias-Soler E, Carballeira E, Sánchez-Otero T, Mayo X, Fernández-del-Olmo M. Performance of maximum number of repetitions with cluster-set configuration. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2014;9:637–42.PubMed
44.
Girman JC, Jones MT, Matthews TD, Wood RJ. Acute effects of a cluster-set protocol on hormonal, metabolic and performance measures in resistance-trained males. Eur J Sport Sci. 2014;14(2):151–9.PubMed
45.
Moir GL, Graham BW, Davis SE, Guers JJ, Witmer CA. Effect of cluster set configurations on the mechanical variables during the deadlift exercise. J Hum Kinet. 2013;39:15–23.PubMedPubMedCentral
46.
Oliver JM, Jenke SC, Mata JD, Kreutzer A, Jones MT. Acute effect of cluster and traditional set configurations on myokines associated with hypertrophy. Int J Sports Med. 2016;37:1019–24.PubMed
47.
Oliver JM, Kreutzer A, Jenke SC, Phillips MD, Mitchell JB, Jones MT. Velocity drives greater power observed during back squat using cluster sets. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(1):235–43.PubMed
48.
Tufano JJ, Conion JA, Nimpius S, Brown LE, Banyard HG, Williamson BD, et al. Cluster sets: permitting greater mechanical stress without decreasing relative velocity. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2017;12:463–9.PubMed
49.
50.
51.
Koefoed N, Lerche M, Jensesn BK, Kjaer P, Dam S, Horslev R, et al. Peak power output in loaded jump squat exercise is affected by set structure. Int J Exerc Sci. 2018;11(1):776–84.PubMedPubMedCentral
52.
Nickerson BS, Mangine GT, Williams TD, Martinez IA. Effect of cluster set warm-up configurations on sprint performance in collegiate male soccer players. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2018;43:625–30.PubMed
53.
Marshall PWM, Robbins DA, Wrightson AWS, Siegler JC. Acute neuromuscular and fatigue responses to the rest-pause method. J Sci Med Sport. 2012;15:153–8.PubMed
54.
Rio-Rodriguez D, Iglesias-Soler E, Fernandez-del-Olmo M. Set configuration in resistance exercise: muscle fatigue and cardiovascular effects. PLoS One. 2016;11(3):e0151163.PubMedPubMedCentral
55.
Iglesias-Soler E, Carballeira E, Sanchez-Otero T, Mayo X, Jimenez A, Chapman ML. Acute effects of distribution of rest between repetitions. Int J Sports Med. 2012;33:351–8.PubMed
56.
Mayo X, Iglesias-Soler E, Fernandez-del-Olmo M. Effects of set configuration of resistance exercise on perceived exertion. Percept Mot Skills. 2014;119(3):1–13.
57.
García-Ramos A, Padial P, Haff GG, Arguelles-Cienfuegos J, García-Ramos M, Conde-Pipo J, et al. Effect of different interrepetition rest periods on barbell velocity loss during the ballistic bench press exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2015;29(9):2388–96.PubMed
58.
59.
60.
Vernillo G, Temesi J, Martin M, Millet GY. Mechanisms of fatigue and recovery in upper versus lower limbs in men. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2018;50(2):334–43.PubMed
61.
Walker S, Davis L, Avela J, Hakkinen K. Neuromuscular fatigue during dynamic maximal strength and hypertrophic resistance loadings. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2012;22(3):356–62.PubMed
62.
Todd G, Taylor JL, Gandevia SC. Measurement of voluntary activation of fresh and fatigued human muscles using transcranial magnetic stimulation. J Physiol. 2003;551(Pt 2):661–71.PubMedPubMedCentral
63.
Kent-Braun JA. Central and peripheral contributions to muscle fatigue in humans during sustained maximal effort. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1999;80(1):57–63.PubMed
64.
Finsterer J. Biomarkers of peripheral muscle fatigue during exercise. BMC Musculskelet Disord. 2012;13:218.
65.
Gorostiaga EM, Navarro-Amezqueta I, Cusso R, Hellsten Y, Calbet JAL, Guerrero M, et al. Anaerobic energy expenditure and mechanical efficiency during exhaustive leg press exercise. PLoS One. 2010;5(10):e13486.PubMedPubMedCentral
66.
Gorostiaga EM, Navarro-Amézqueta I, Calbet JA, Sánchez-Medina L, Cusso R, Guerrero M, et al. Blood ammonia and lactate as markers of muscle metabolites during leg press exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2014;28(10):2775–85.PubMed
67.
Gorostiaga EM, Navarro-Amézqueta I, Calbet JA, Hellsten Y, Cusso R, Guerrero M, et al. Energy metabolism during repeated sets of leg press exercise leading to failure or not. PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e40621.PubMedPubMedCentral
68.
69.
Hunter SK. Sex differences in human fatigability: mechanisms and insight to physiological responses. Act Physiol. 2014;210(4):768–89.
70.
Bazzucchi I, Marchetti M, Rosponi A, Fattorini L, Castellano V, Sbriccoli P, et al. Differences in the force/endurance relationship between young and older men. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2005;93(4):390–7.PubMed
71.
Ramirez-Campillo R, Alvarez C, Garcìa-Hermoso A, Celis-Morales C, Ramirez-Velez R, Gentil P, et al. High-speed resistance training in elderly women: effects of cluster training sets on functional performance and quality of life. Exp Gerontol. 2018;110:216–22.PubMed
Metadata
Title
The Acute Neuromuscular Responses to Cluster Set Resistance Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors
Christopher Latella
Wei-Peng Teo
Eric J. Drinkwater
Kristina Kendall
G. Gregory Haff
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Sports Medicine / Issue 12/2019
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01172-z

Other articles of this Issue 12/2019

Sports Medicine 12/2019 Go to the issue

Review Article

The Effect of Training Interventions on Change of Direction Biomechanics Associated with Increased Anterior Cruciate Ligament Loading: A Scoping Review

Systematic Review

Injury Incidence, Prevalence and Severity in High-Level Male Youth Football: A Systematic Review

Systematic Review

Sex Dimorphism of VO2max Trainability: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Review Article

Combat as an Interpersonal Synergy: An Ecological Dynamics Approach to Combat Sports

Systematic Review

Relationships Between Dry-land Resistance Training and Swim Start Performance and Effects of Such Training on the Swim Start: A Systematic Review

Correction

Correction to: Relationships Between Dry-land Resistance Training and Swim Start Performance and Effects of Such Training on the Swim Start: A Systematic Review