RESEARCH PAPER
Impact of Prior Fatigue on Velocity Loss
as a Set-Termination Criterion in the Bench Press Exercise
1
Department of Human Movement and Sport Performance, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
2
Science-Based Training, Physical Performance & Sports Research Center (CIRFD), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.
3
Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
Submission date: 2025-06-20
Final revision date: 2025-09-22
Acceptance date: 2025-11-13
Publication date: 2026-04-02
Corresponding author
Luis Rodiles-Guerrero
Department of Human Movement and Sport Performance,, University of Seville, Seville, Spain, Spain
Department of Human Movement and Sport Performance,, University of Seville, Seville, Spain, Spain
Journal of Human Kinetics 2026;101:35-48
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study analyzed the relationship between the percentage of completed repetitions with respect to the maximum that can be performed (%Rep) and the velocity loss (VL) in the bench press exercise after a previous effort (PE). Fourteen men performed four protocols (one week apart) consisting of a set to failure with 60% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) preceded by a PE with the same load but different VL magnitude (0%: PE0, 20%: PE20, 40%: PE40, and 60% of VL: PE60). Velocity against 60% 1RM (V60-load) and blood lactate concentration were measured after each PE. The relationship %Rep-VL was obtained through the coefficient of determination (R2) and the standard error of estimate (SEE). Absolute reliability and differences during the set to failure were calculated. V60-load decreased significantly in all protocols (except PE0) (p ≤ 0.05). Blood lactate concentration increased with the magnitude of effort (p ≤ 0.05). Regarding the relationship %Rep-%VL, as the %VL increased during the PE, the R2 decreased and the SEE increased. %Rep showed “satisfactory” absolute reliability above 15%VL, with the absolute differences being high-moderate (<10%) for all VL magnitudes (except PE0-40 with 60%VL). VL is a reliable and accurate set termination criterion with a PE of any magnitude, but higher reliability is observed with low-moderate levels of fatigue.
REFERENCES (39)
1.
Bachero-Mena, B., Rodiles-Guerrero, L., Sánchez-Valdepeñas, J., Cornejo-Daza, P. J., Cano-Castillo, C., Pareja-Blanco, F., & Sánchez-Moreno, M. (2025). Velocity loss as an indicator of resistance training volume in women. Journal of Human Kinetics, 95, 111–122.
2.
Bird, S. P., Tarpenning, K. M., & Marino, F. E. (2005). Designing resistance training programmes to enhance muscular fitness: A review of the acute programme variables. Sports Medicine, 35(10), 841–851.
3.
Bonaventura, J. M., Sharpe, K., Knight, E., Fuller, K. L., Tanner, R. K., & Gore, C. J. (2015). Reliability and accuracy of six hand-held blood lactate analysers. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 14(1), 203–214.
4.
Cadore, E. L., Pinto, R. S., Bottaro, M., & Izquierdo, M. (2014). Strength and endurance training prescription in healthy and frail elderly. Aging and Disease, 5(3), 183–195.
5.
Courel-Ibáñez, J., Martínez-Cava, A., Morán-Navarro, R., Escribano-Peñas, P., Chavarren-Cabrero, J., González-Badillo, J. J., & Pallarés, J. G. (2019). Reproducibility and Repeatability of Five Different Technologies for Bar Velocity Measurement in Resistance Training. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 47(7), 1523–1538.
6.
De Luca, C. J. (1984). Myoelectrical manifestations of localized muscular fatigue in humans. Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, 11(4), 251–279.
7.
González-Badillo, J. J., Rodríguez-Rosell, D., Sánchez-Medina, L., Ribas, J., López-López, C., Mora-Custodio, R., Yañez-García, J. M., & Pareja-Blanco, F. (2016). Short-term recovery following resistance exercise leading or not to failure. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 37(4), 295–304.
8.
González-Badillo, J. J., & Sánchez-Medina, L. (2010). Movement velocity as a measure of loading intensity in resistance training. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 31(5), 347–352.
9.
Gonzalez-Badillo, J. J., Yanez-Garcia, J. M., Mora-Custodio, R., & Rodriguez-Rosell, D. (2017). Velocity loss as a variable for monitoring resistance exercise. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 38(3), 217–225.
10.
Gorostiaga, E. M., Navarro-Amézqueta, I., Calbet, J. A., Hellsten, Y., Cusso, R., Guerrero, M., Granados, C., González-Izal, M., Ibañez, J., & Izquierdo, M. (2012). Energy metabolism during repeated sets of leg press exercise leading to failure or not. PLoS One, 7(7), e40621.
11.
Grgic, J., Schoenfeld, B. J., Orazem, J., & Sabol, F. (2021). Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 11(2), 202–211.
12.
Hass, C. J., Feigenbaum, M. S., & Franklin, B. A. (2001). Prescription of resistance training for healthy populations. Sports Medicine, 31(14), 953–964.
13.
Hedges, L. V., & Olkin, I. (1985). Statistical methods for meta-analysis. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
14.
Jenkins, N. D., Housh, T. J., Bergstrom, H. C., Cochrane, K. C., Hill, E. C., Smith, C. M., Johnson, G. O., Schmidt, R. J., & Cramer, J. T. (2015). Muscle activation during three sets to failure at 80 vs. 30% 1RM resistance exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 115(11), 2335–2347.
15.
Kraemer, W. J., & Ratamess, N. A. (2004). Fundamentals of resistance training: Progression and exercise prescription. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 36(4), 674–688.
16.
Moran-Navarro, R., Perez, C. E., Mora-Rodriguez, R., de la Cruz-Sanchez, E., Gonzalez-Badillo, J. J., Sanchez-Medina, L., & Pallares, J. G. (2017). Time course of recovery following resistance training leading or not to failure. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 117(12), 2387–2399.
17.
Nuzzo, J. L., Pinto, M. D., Nosaka, K., & Steele, J. (2024). Maximal number of repetitions at percentages of the one repetition maximum: A meta-regression and moderator analysis of sex, age, training status, and exercise. Sports Medicine, 54(2), 303–321.
18.
Pallarés, J. G., Sánchez-Medina, L., Pérez, C. E., De La Cruz-Sánchez, E., & Mora-Rodriguez, R. (2014). Imposing a pause between the eccentric and concentric phases increases the reliability of isoinertial strength assessments. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(12), 1165–1175.
19.
Pareja-Blanco, F., Rodríguez-Rosell, D., Aagaard, P., Sánchez-Medina, L., Ribas-Serna, J., Mora-Custodio, R., Otero-Esquina, C., Yáñez-García, J. M., & González-Badillo, J. J. (2020). Time course of recovery from resistance exercise with different set configurations. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34(10), 2867–2876.
20.
Pareja‐Blanco, F., Alcazar, J., Cornejo‐Daza, P. J., Sánchez‐Valdepeñas, J., Rodriguez‐Lopez, C., Hidalgo‐de Mora, J., Sánchez‐Moreno, M., Bachero‐Mena, B., Alegre, L. M., & Ortega‐Becerra, M. (2020). Effects of velocity loss in the bench press exercise on strength gains, neuromuscular adaptations, and muscle hypertrophy. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 30(11), 2154–2166.
21.
Pelland, J. C., Robinson, Z. P., Remmert, J. F., Cerminaro, R. M., Benitez, B., John, T. A., Helms, E. R., & Zourdos, M. C. (2022). Methods for controlling and reporting resistance training proximity to failure: Current issues and future directions. Sports Medicine, 52(7), 1461–1472.
22.
Pérez-Castilla, A., Şentürk, D., Akyildiz, Z., Jukic, I., & García-Ramos, A. (2024). Prediction of percentage of completed repetitions to failure using velocity loss: Does the relationship remain stable throughout a training session? Applied Sciences, 14(11), 4531.
23.
Peterson, M. D., Rhea, M. R., & Alvar, B. A. (2004). Maximizing strength development in athletes: A meta-analysis to determine the dose-response relationship. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 18(2), 377–382.
24.
Ralston, G. W., Kilgore, L., Wyatt, F. B., & Baker, J. S. (2017). The effect of weekly set volume on strength gain: A meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 47(12), 2585–2601.
25.
Ratamess, N. A., Alvar, T. K., Evetoch, T. J., Housh, W. B., Kibler, W. J., & Kraemer, W. J. (2009). American College of Sports Medicine position stand: Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(3), 687–708.
26.
Richens, B., & Cleather, D. J. (2014). The relationship between the number of repetitions performed at given intensities is different in endurance and strength trained athletes. Biology of Sport, 31(2), 157–161.
27.
Rodiles-Guerrero, L., Cornejo-Daza, P. J., Sánchez-Valdepeñas, J., Alcazar, J., Rodriguez-López, C., Sánchez-Moreno, M., Alegre, L. M., León-Prados, J. A., & Pareja-Blanco, F. (2022). Specific adaptations to 0%, 15%, 25%, and 50% velocity-loss thresholds during bench press training. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 17(8), 1231–1241.
28.
Rodiles-Guerrero, L., Sánchez-Valdepeñas, J., Cornejo-Daza, P. J., Páez-Maldonado, J., Cano-Castillo, C., Bachero-Mena, B., Sánchez-Moreno, M., & Pareja-Blanco, F. (2024). Effects of velocity loss during bench-press training with light relative loads. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 19(10), 1076–1086.
29.
Rodriguez-Rosell, D., Yanez-Garcia, J. M., Sanchez-Medina, L., Mora-Custodio, R., & Gonzalez-Badillo, J. J. (2019). Relationship between velocity loss and repetitions in reserve in the bench press and back squat exercises. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34(9), 2537–2547.
30.
Sakamoto, A., & Sinclair, P. J. (2006). Effect of movement velocity on the relationship between training load and the number of repetitions of bench press. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20(3), 523–527.
31.
Sánchez-Medina, L., & González-Badillo, J. J. (2011). Velocity loss as an indicator of neuromuscular fatigue during resistance training. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43(9), 1725–1734.
32.
Sánchez-Medina, L., Pérez, C. E., & González-Badillo, J. J. (2010). Importance of the propulsive phase in strength assessment. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 31(2), 123–129.
33.
Sánchez-Moreno, M., Bachero-Mena, B., Sánchez-Valdepeñas, J., Nakamura, F. Y., & Pareja-Blanco, F. (2024). Impact of Generalized Versus Individualized Load-Velocity Equations on Velocity-Loss Magnitude in Bench-Press Exercise: Mixed-Model and Equivalence Analysis. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 19(12), 1480–1490.
34.
Sánchez-Moreno, M., Rendeiro-Pinho, G., Mil-Homens, P. V., & Pareja-Blanco, F. (2021). Monitoring training volume through maximal number of repetitions or velocity-based approach. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 16(4), 527–534.
35.
Sánchez-Moreno, M., Rodiles-Guerrero, L., Rendeiro-Pinho, G., Prieto-Veloso, A., & Pareja-Blanco, F. (2023). Acute mechanical and metabolic responses to different resistance training protocols with equated volume load. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 18(4), 402–413.
36.
Sheppard, J. M., & Triplett, N. T. (2016). Program design for resistance training. In G. Haff & N. T. Triplett (Eds.), Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning (4th ed., pp. 439–470). Human Kinetics.
37.
Stokes, M. (1985). Reliability and repeatability of methods for measuring muscle in physiotherapy. Physiotherapy Practice, 1(2), 71–76.
38.
Tan, B. (1999). Manipulating resistance training program variables to optimize maximum strength in men: A review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 13(3), 289–304.
39.
Toigo, M., & Boutellier, U. (2006). New fundamental resistance exercise determinants of molecular and cellular muscle adaptations. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 97(6), 643–663.
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 1899-7562 |
| ISSN: | 1640-5544 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
