Intensity and interval of recovery in strength exercise influences performance: salivary lactate and alpha amylase as biochemical markers. A pilot study

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of intensity and interval of recovery on performance in the bench press exercise, and the response of salivary lactate and alpha amylase levels.

Methods

Ten sportsman (aged 29 ± 4 years; body mass index 26 ± 2 kg/cm²) were divided in two groups: G70 (performing a bench press exercise at 70 % one repetition maximum—1RM), and G90 (performing a bench press exercise at 90 %—1RM). All groups were engaged in three intervals of recovery (30, 60 and 90 s). The maximum number of repetitions (MNR) and total weight lifted were computed, and saliva samples were collected 15 min before and after different intervals of recovery. For the comparison of the performance and biochemistry parameters, ANOVA tests for repeated measurements were conducted, with a significance level set at 5 %.

Results

In G70, the 30 s MNR was lower than the 60 and 90 s intervals of recovery (p < 0.05) and the MNR with the 60 s interval of recovery was lower than the 90 s interval of recovery (p < 0.041). Similarly, in G90 with the 30 s of interval of recovery, the sets were lower than observed with the 60 and 90 s (p < 0.05), and MNR with the 60 s interval of recovery was lower than the 90 s interval of recovery (p < 0.05). The salivary lactate showed an increase after exercise (p < 0.05) when compared with the rest period for all groups, and no effects were observed for salivary alpha amylase.

Conclusions

Based on this result, the sets and reps can be modified to change the recovery time. This effect is very useful to improve the performance in relationship to different fitness levels.