Inter-Individual Variability in Repetitions to Failure Across Relative Loads During the Prone Bench Pull in Highly Trained Rowers

Background : This study examined the maximum number of repetitions (MNR) that can be completed to muscular failure at different relative loads in the prone bench pull (PBP) exercise, its inter-individual variability, and potential anthropometric factors associated with this variability in male and female highly trained rowers.

Methods

Twenty-five national- and international-level rowers (16 men and 9 women) completed an incremental loading test to determine the one-repetition maximum (1RM) and velocity associated with each relative load, followed by four sets to muscular failure at 50, 60, 70, and 80% 1RM, performed in a randomized order, with 5–7 days between sessions. Peak velocity of the fastest (Vmax-Best) and last (Vmax-Last) repetitions, velocity loss (VL), and MNR were recorded.