Effect of exercise order on multiple one-repetition maximal test performance

BACKGROUND: The One-Repetition (1-RM) Test has been one of the most used to evaluate strength, due to its applicability and low cost. For its accurate application warm-up, familiarization and rest interval must be carefully considered. There are no considerations regarding the exercise order when multiple1-RM tests are performed. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify whether exercise order could influence subjects’ performance during multiple 1-RM tests executed in the same session. METHODS: Thirteen males (23.0±4.8 years; 23.9±3.0 kg/m2) experienced in resistance training participated in this crossover and cross-sectional study. Each subject performed eight 1-RM tests for different exercises in two sequences: sequence A (bench press, leg press 45, seated row, hack machine, triceps extension, hamstring curl, biceps curl, and hip adduction) and sequence B, composed of the same exercises as Sequence A in the reverse order. RESULTS: The paired t-test did not identify any significant difference between the values of the 1-RM test in the two sequences in all tested exercises: bench press (P=0.37), leg press 45 (P=0.17), seated row (P=0.39), hack machine (P=0.12), triceps extension (P=0.17), hamstring curl (P=0.37), biceps curl (P=0.08), and hip adduction (P=0.45). CONCLUSIONS: Although several evidences indicate that order affects performance during a training session, the presented results show that exercise order does not affect performance in multiple 1-RM tests, and so maximal strength for different exercises can be assessed in the same session.