Acute Effects of Parallel Back Squat Performed in Different Set Configurations on Neuromuscular Performance

We compared the acute effects of parallel back squat performed from different resistance training configurations on neuromuscular performance. Twenty-eight young adults underwent 4 experimental conditions: inter-repetition rest, traditional, traditional to failure, and rest-pause in the parallel back squat in a randomized, counterbalanced, and cross-over design. The neuromuscular performance was assessed through peak torque of knee extensors and flexors at two angular velocities (90 and 120o/s) in three moments (before, post, and post-30 min). The peak torque of the knee extensors and flexors at 90 and 120o/s decreased immediately after training for traditional, traditional to failure, and rest-pause (-8.1% to -17.7%, P <0.001). A greater reduction in the extensor peak torque was found at 120o/s ( P <0.05) in the rest-pause (-17.7%) when compared to traditional (-10.8%). The peak torque returned to baseline values only at post-30 min for the traditional configuration for the knee flexion action at 120o/s. The peak torque remained similar for the muscular actions and angular velocities for the inter-repetition rest ( P >0.05). Our results suggest the inter-repetition rest configuration seems to be a more appropriate strategy for maintaining the lower limb neuromuscular performance after a resistance training session.