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🏋️ The Impact of Proximity-to-Failure on Resistance Training Responses
PLUS: A Review of the Validity of Reliability Indices in Sports Science
Haresh Suppiah
May 05, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
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Welcome, science enthusiasts.
In today’s edition:
• Proximity-to-failure effects on resistance training perceptions
• Reliability indices in sports medicine: a critical review
• Arm tuck saves cyclists 91 seconds
• Dominant arm moves differently
• Female skiers face more back strain
• Women still sidelined in sport leadership
• Step‑by‑step rotator‑cuff recovery guide
• Weight swings alter long‑term eating habits
• Timetabled PE boosts activity for disabled kids
• Fitness lifts mood in diabetic youth
and several more…
FEATURED ARTICLES 🌭
Key finding:
Common reliability indices used in sports medicine may lead to misleading conclusions due to unaccounted systematic errors.
How they did it:
Methodology: The study simulated data from two jump sessions of youth elite basketball players to evaluate common reliability indices like the Pearson correlation coefficient (rp) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test-retest reliability.
Results: Findings revealed that an ICC ≥ 0.9 could coincide with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) exceeding 20%, indicating substantial random errors despite high reliability indices.
Systematic Bias: A reorganization of jump test data led to improved relative reliability metrics, with an ICC of 0.98, but also introduced significant systematic bias (mean difference of 5.48 cm), highlighting the pitfalls of solely relying on ICC for reliability assessments.
Innovations: The study advocates for a blended analysis approach, including methods such as Bland-Altman analyses for evaluating agreement and systematic bias alongside conventional reliability indices to enhance the understanding of measurement errors.
Practical Guidelines: The authors emphasize the necessity of quantifying both random and systematic errors in study protocols to ensure valid conclusions and recommendations for training and rehabilitation in sports science.
Why it matters:
Understanding reliability statistics is crucial for sports professionals who rely on accurate data to make informed decisions about training protocols. This study uncovers important flaws in commonly used reliability measures, revealing that excellent scores can sometimes mask substantial measurement errors—over 20% in some cases. By recognizing these nuances, coaches and clinicians can refine their assessment methods, ensuring that training adjustments are based on more accurate representations of an athlete’s capabilities and improvements.
Key finding:
Training to momentary muscular failure increases discomfort and perceived exertion while negatively affecting overall feelings compared to less intense training.
How they did it:
Methodology: The study involved 18 resistance-trained participants (12 males, 6 females) who completed an 8-week intervention consisting of bi-weekly resistance training sessions focused on leg press and leg extension exercises, randomized to either momentary muscular failure (FAIL) or varying repetitions-in-reserve (RIR) protocols (1- or 2-RIR).
Results: Ratings of perceived discomfort (RPD) averaged 5.1 for FAIL and 4.1 for RIR (p < 0.001), while the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was higher for FAIL (5.4) compared to RIR (4.3). Additionally, general feelings, as assessed by a feeling scale, were significantly more positive for RIR (1.2) than for FAIL (0.3).
Time-Based Trends: The most significant differences in RPD and RPE between the FAIL and RIR groups were observed in week eight, with increases in RPD for FAIL averaging 1.2 points compared to RIR, highlighting a potential trend of worsening perceptions over time in the FAIL group.
Innovations: The use of Bayesian mixed-effect models allowed for a nuanced analysis of perceptual responses, facilitating direct modeling of uncertainty and improved estimation of outcome probabilities, enhancing the understanding of how proximity to failure impacts resistance training experiences.
Practical Application: The findings suggest that training to 1- or 2-RIR can help mitigate negative feelings associated with resistance training and encourage better long-term adherence, stressing the importance of tailoring resistance training approaches to individual perceptual experiences.
Why it matters:
The study shows that resistance training to momentary muscular failure results in greater perceived discomfort and exertion compared to stopping 1 to 2 repetitions before failure. Specifically, individuals reported a discomfort score of 5.1 for failure compared to 4.1 for the 1-2 RIR method, highlighting a potential trade-off between intensity and exercise enjoyment. This insight helps coaches and athletes tailor training protocols to balance performance goals with long-term adherence by considering athletes’ feelings toward their workouts.
QUICK BITES 🍤
Athlete Health and Well-being
-Sports climbers in Metro Manila show a low tendency for health-seeking behavior, highlighting vulnerabilities in their care accessibility.
Biomechanics
-Optimizing arm position can reduce aerodynamic drag by 11.2%, saving nearly 91 seconds in a 40 km time trial.
-Upper-extremity performance asymmetry in athletes is influenced by differing joint coordination patterns between dominant and nondominant sides.
-Female cross-country skiers exhibit higher lower back muscle activation during double poling, indicating greater susceptibility to back issues.
Gender and Sex Differences in Sport
-While women hold some decision-making power in sports organizations, men still dominate the most influential positions, reflecting gender inequality.
Injury
-This guideline offers comprehensive recommendations for assessing and treating rotator cuff tendinopathy in adults and athletes.
Nutrition
-Moderate weight cycling in athletes does not impair appetite responses but may negatively affect long-term eating behaviors, especially in combat sports and females.
Physical Education and Pedagogy
-Structured school time significantly enhances physical activity participation among children and adolescents with disabilities.
Sport Psychology
-Higher physical fitness and activity levels are linked to improved well-being in youths with type 1 diabetes.
-Acute exercise may temporarily reduce stress reactivity in children with chronic stress but has no generalizable effects for all.
-Performance anxiety in adolescent football players does not directly affect their emotional levels, despite high emotions.
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Curated by Haresh Suppiah