SECTION III - SPORTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY / RESEARCH PAPER
Objective Accuracy in Estimating Repetitions in Reserve
in the Back Squat: An Analysis between Experienced
vs. Novice Subjects
1
Motion Human Performance Laboratory, Santiago, Chile.
2
Department of Exercise Science, Sports Performance Research, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
3
Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
4
Núcleo de Investigación en Salud, Actividad Física y Deporte ISAFYD, Universidad de Las Américas, Chile
5
Escuela de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile.
6
Facultad de Educación y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile.
7
Escuela de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, Facultad de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación y Calidad de Vida, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile.
Submission date: 2024-12-19
Final revision date: 2025-03-28
Acceptance date: 2025-05-16
Online publication date: 2025-11-19
Corresponding author
Emilio Jofré-Saldía
Facultad de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación y Calidad de Vida, Universidad San Sebastián, Lota 2465, Providencia, Región Metropolita, 7510157, Santiago, Chile
Facultad de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación y Calidad de Vida, Universidad San Sebastián, Lota 2465, Providencia, Región Metropolita, 7510157, Santiago, Chile
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to objectively compare the accuracy of estimating repetitions in reserve (RIR) in the back squat among subjects with different levels of experience in resistance training (RT). Sixteen healthy adults (24.31 ± 4.94 years, 4 women and 12 men) were divided into the experienced (N = 8; ≥ 18 months of experience) and the novice (N = 8; <18 months of experience) in RT. Each group performed one set to muscle failure (day 1), and one RIR3 and RIR1 (day 2) of Smith machine back squats with a load of 70% 1RM. In addition, mean propulsive velocity (MPV) and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE; 0–10 scale) were assessed to individually objectify the RIR. There were no differences in accuracy for estimating both RIR3 and RIR1 between groups (p > 0.05, d ≥ 0.03). Furthermore, there were no differences in MPV, velocity loss, the RPE, and total of repetitions to muscle failure, RIR3, and RIR1 sets (p > 0.05, d ≥ −0.07). Overall, our findings suggest that RT experience does not influence the accuracy of estimating RIRs in the back squat, which is objectively supported by individualized MPV and the RPE. Previous familiarity with high-level effort may play a key role in accuracy beyond RT experience.
REFERENCES (47)
1.
Armes, C., Standish-Hunt, H., Androulakis-Korakakis, P., Michalopoulos, N., Georgieva, T., Hammond, A., Fisher, J. P., Gentil, P., Giessing, J., & Steele, J. (2020). “Just One More Rep!” – Ability to Predict Proximity to Task Failure in Resistance Trained Persons. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 565416. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.....
2.
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. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/19....
3.
Balsalobre-Fernández, C., Muñoz-López, M., Marchante, D., & García-Ramos, A. (2021a). Repetitions in Reserve and Rate of Perceived Exertion Increase the Prediction Capabilities of the Load-Velocity Relationship. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(3), 724–730. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
4.
Balsalobre-Fernández, C., Muñoz-López, M., Marchante, D., & García-Ramos, A. (2021b). Repetitions in Reserve and Rate of Perceived Exertion Increase the Prediction Capabilities of the Load-Velocity Relationship. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(3), 724–730. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
5.
Banyard, H. G., Nosaka, K., Vernon, A. D., & Gregory Haff, G. (2018). The reliability of individualized load–velocity profiles. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 13(6), 763–769. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.....
6.
Bastos, V., Machado, S., & Teixeira, D. S. (2024). Feasibility and Usefulness of Repetitions-In-Reserve Scales for Selecting Exercise Intensity: A Scoping Review. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 131(3), 940–970. https://doi.org/10.1177/003151....
7.
Brzycki, M. (1993). Strength Testing—Predicting a One-Rep Max from Reps-to-Fatigue. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 64(1), 88–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/073030....
8.
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
9.
Damas, F., Angleri, V., Phillips, S. M., Witard, O. C., Ugrinowitsch, C., Santanielo, N., Soligon, S. D., Costa, L. A. R., Lixandrão, M. E., Conceição, M. S., & Libardi, C. A. (2019). Myofibrillar protein synthesis and muscle hypertrophy individualized responses to systematically changing resistance training variables in trained young men. Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 127(3), 806–815. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplp....
10.
Emanuel, A., Smukas, I. R., & Halperin, I. (2021). How one feels during resistance exercises: A repetition-by-repetition analysis across exercises and loads. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 16(1), 135–144. https://doi.org/10.1123/IJSPP.....
11.
Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Lang, A.-G., & Buchner, A. (2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39(2), 175–191. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF0319....
12.
Festa, R. R., Jofré-Saldía, E., Candia, A. A., Monsalves-Álvarez, M., Flores-Opazo, M., Peñailillo, L., Marzuca-Nassr, G. N., Aguilar-Farias, N., Fritz-Silva, N., Cancino-Lopez, J., Soto-Sánchez, J., Sepulveda, C., Huerta Ojeda, Á., Núñez-Espinosa, C., Valladares-Ide, D., & Jannas-Vela, S. (2023). Next steps to advance general physical activity recommendations towards physical exercise prescription: a narrative review. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 9(4), e001749. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem....
13.
González-Badillo, J. J., Rodríguez-Rosell, D., Sánchez-Medina, L., Gorostiaga, E. M., & Pareja-Blanco, F. (2014). Maximal intended velocity training induces greater gains in bench press performance than deliberately slower half-velocity training. European Journal of Sport Science, 14(8), 772–781. https://doi.org/10.1080/174613....
14.
Grgic, J., Schoenfeld, B. J., Skrepnik, M., Davies, T. B., & Mikulic, P. (2018). Effects of Rest Interval Duration in Resistance Training on Measures of Muscular Strength: A Systematic Review. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 48(1), 137–151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279....
15.
Hackett, D. A., Cobley, S. P., Davies, T. B., Michael, S. W., & Halaki, M. (2017). Accuracy in Estimating Repetitions to Failure During Resistance Exercise. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(8), 2162–2168. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
16.
Halperin, I., Malleron, T., Har-Nir, I., Androulakis-Korakakis, P., Wolf, M., Fisher, J., & Steele, J. (2022). Accuracy in Predicting Repetitions to Task Failure in Resistance Exercise: A Scoping Review and Exploratory Meta-analysis. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 52(2), 377–390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279....
17.
Harriss, D. J., MacSween, A., & Atkinson, G. (2019). Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research: 2020 Update. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 40(13), 813–817. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1015....
18.
Hernández-Belmonte, A., Courel-Ibáñez, J., Conesa-Ros, E., Martínez-Cava, A., & Pallarés, J. G. (2022). Level of Effort: A Reliable and Practical Alternative to the Velocity-Based Approach for Monitoring Resistance Training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36(11), 2992–2999. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
19.
Janicijevic, D., Miras-Moreno, S., Morenas-Aguilar, M. D., & García-Ramos, A. (2025). Does the Length of Inter-Set Rest Periods Impact the Volume of Bench Pull Repetitions Completed before Surpassing Various Cut-Off Velocities? Journal of Human Kinetics, 95, 139–150. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/18....
20.
Jukic, I., Prnjak, K., Helms, E. R., & McGuigan, M. R. (2024). Modeling the repetitions-in-reserve-velocity relationship: a valid method for resistance training monitoring and prescription, and fatigue management. Physiological Reports, 12(5), e15955. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.....
21.
Mansfield, S. K., Peiffer, J. J., Galna, B., & Scott, B. R. (2023). The velocity of resistance exercise does not accurately assess repetitions-in-reserve. European Journal of Sport Science, 23(12), 2357–2367. https://doi.org/10.1080/174613....
22.
Morán-Navarro, R., Martínez-Cava, A., Sánchez-Medina, L., Mora-Rodríguez, R., González-Badillo, J. J., & Pallarés, J. G. (2019). Movement Velocity as a Measure of Level of Effort During Resistance Exercise. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33(6), 1496–1504. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
23.
Odgers, J. B., Zourdos, M. C., Helms, E. R., Candow, D. G., Dahlstrom, B., Bruno, P., & Sousa, C. A. (2021). Rating of Perceived Exertion and Velocity Relationships Among Trained Males and Females in the Front Squat and Hexagonal Bar Deadlift. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(1), S23–S30. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
24.
Ormsbee, M. J., Carzoli, J. P., Klemp, A., Allman, B. R., Zourdos, M. C., Kim, J.-S., & Panton, L. B. (2019). Efficacy of the Repetitions in Reserve-Based Rating of Perceived Exertion for the Bench Press in Experienced and Novice Benchers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33(2), 337–345. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
25.
Pareja-Blanco, F., Alcazar, J., Sánchez-Valdepeñas, J., Cornejo-Daza, P. J., Piqueras-Sanchiz, F., Mora-Vela, R., Sánchez-Moreno, M., Bachero-Mena, B., Ortega-Becerra, M., & Alegre, L. M. (2020). Velocity Loss as a Critical Variable Determining the Adaptations to Strength Training. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 52(8), 1752–1762. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.00....
26.
Pareja-Blanco, F., Rodríguez-Rosell, D., Sánchez-Medina, L., Gorostiaga, E. M., & González-Badillo, J. J. (2014). Effect of movement velocity during resistance training on neuromuscular performance. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 35(11), 916–924. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033....
27.
Pareja-Blanco, F., Rodríguez-Rosell, D., Sánchez-Medina, L., Sanchis-Moysi, J., Dorado, C., Mora-Custodio, R., Yáñez-García, J. M., Morales-Alamo, D., Pérez-Suárez, I., Calbet, J. A. L., & González-Badillo, J. J. (2017). Effects of velocity loss during resistance training on athletic performance, strength gains and muscle adaptations. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 27(7), 724–735. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12....
28.
Refalo, M. C., Helms, E. R., Hamilton, D. L., & Fyfe, J. J. (2022). Towards an improved understanding of proximity-to-failure in resistance training and its influence on skeletal muscle hypertrophy, neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage, and perceived discomfort: A scoping review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40(12), 1369–1391. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
29.
Refalo, M. C., Remmert, J. F., Pelland, J. C., Robinson, Z. P., Zourdos, M. C., Hamilton, D. L., Fyfe, J. J., & Helms, E. R. (2024). Accuracy of Intraset Repetitions-in-Reserve Predictions During the Bench Press Exercise in Resistance-Trained Male and Female Subjects. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 38(3), e78–e85. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
30.
Remmert, J. F., Laurson, K. R., & Zourdos, M. C. (2023). Accuracy of Predicted Intraset Repetitions in Reserve (RIR) in Single- and Multi-Joint Resistance Exercises Among Trained and Untrained Men and Women. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 130(3), 1239–1254. https://doi.org/10.1177/003151....
31.
Robinson, Z. P., Pelland, J. C., Remmert, J. F., Refalo, M. C., Jukic, I., Steele, J., & Zourdos, M. C. (2024). Exploring the Dose–Response Relationship Between Estimated Resistance Training Proximity to Failure, Strength Gain, and Muscle Hypertrophy: A Series of Meta-Regressions. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 54(9), 2209–2231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279....
32.
Rodríguez-Rosell, D., Yáñez-García, J. M., Sánchez-Medina, L., Mora-Custodio, R., & González-Badillo, J. J. (2020). 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. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
33.
Rosa, A., Coleman, M., Haun, C., Grgic, J., & Schoenfeld, B. J. (2023). Repetition Performance, Rating of Perceived Discomfort, and Blood Lactate Responses to Different Rest Interval Lengths in Single-Joint and Multijoint Lower-Body Exercise. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 37(7), 1350–1357. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
34.
Sánchez-Medina, L., & González-Badillo, J. J. (2011). Velocity loss as an indicator of neuromuscular fatigue during resistance training. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 43(9), 1725–1734. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b....
35.
Sánchez-Medina, L., Pallarés, J., Pérez, C., Morán-Navarro, R., & González-Badillo, J. (2017). Estimation of Relative Load From Bar Velocity in the Full Back Squat Exercise. Sports Medicine International Open, 1(2), E80–E88. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043....
36.
Sanchez-Medina, L., Perez, C. E., & Gonzalez-Badillo, J. J. (2010). Importance of the Propulsive Phase in Strength Assessment. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 31(2), 123–129. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0029....
37.
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. https://doi.org/10.1123/IJSPP.....
38.
Santos, W. D. N. dos, Vieira, C. A., Bottaro, M., Nunes, V. A., Ramirez-Campillo, R., Steele, J., Fisher, J. P., & Gentil, P. (2021). Resistance Training Performed to Failure or Not to Failure Results in Similar Total Volume, but With Different Fatigue and Discomfort Levels. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(5), 1372–1379. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
39.
Steele, J., Endres, A., Fisher, J., Gentil, P., & Giessing, J. (2017). Ability to predict repetitions to momentary failure is not perfectly accurate, though improves with resistance training experience. PeerJ, 5(11), e4105. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.....
40.
Suchomel, T. J., Cantwell, C. J., Campbell, B. A., Schroeder, Z. S., Marshall, L. K., & Taber, C. B. (2024). Braking and Propulsion Phase Characteristics of Traditional and Accentuated Eccentric Loaded Back Squats. Journal of Human Kinetics, 91, 121–133. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/18....
41.
Testa, M., Noakes, T. D., & Desgorces, F.-D. (2012). Training State Improves the Relationship Between Rating of Perceived Exertion and Relative Exercise Volume During Resistance Exercises. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(11), 2990–2996. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b....
42.
Tsoukos, A., Krzysztofik, M., Wilk, M., Zajac, A., Panagiotopoulos, M. G., Psarras, I. I., Petraki, D. P., Terzis, G., & Bogdanis, G. C. (2024). Fatigue and Metabolic Responses during Repeated Sets of Bench Press Exercise to Exhaustion at Different Ranges of Motion. Journal of Human Kinetics, 91, 61–76. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/18....
43.
van der Zwaard, S., Hooft Graafland, F., van Middelkoop, C., & Lintmeijer, L. L. (2023). Validity and Reliability of Facial Rating of Perceived Exertion Scales for Training Load Monitoring. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 37(5), e317–e324. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
44.
Varela-Olalla, D., del Campo-Vecino, J., Leyton-Román, M., Pérez-Castilla, A., & Balsalobre-Fernández, C. (2022). Rating of perceived exertion and velocity loss as variables for controlling the level of effort in the bench press exercise. Sports Biomechanics, 21(1), 41–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/147631....
45.
Vehovar, V., Toepoel, V., & Steinmetz, S. (2016). Non-probability sampling. In C. Wolf, D. Joye, T. W. Smith, & Y.-c. Fu (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Survey Methods (pp. 329–345).
46.
Zhao, H., Seo, D., & Okada, J. (2023). Validity of using perceived exertion to assess muscle fatigue during back squat exercise. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 15(1), 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102....
47.
Zourdos, M. C., Klemp, A., Dolan, C., Quiles, J. M., Schau, K. A., Jo, E., Helms, E., Esgro, B., Duncan, S., Garcia Merino, S., & Blanco, R. (2016). Novel Resistance Training–Specific Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale Measuring Repetitions in Reserve. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30(1), 267–275. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
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.
