Moir, G. L., Rhoades, M., Witmer, C. A., & Davis, S. E. (2010). The effects of exercise order and load on power output and work during clean pulls. Presentation 2086 at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; June 2-5.

This study investigated the effects of manipulating exercise order and load on power output and work during a series of clean pulls in males (N = 10). Ss performed four sets of clean pulls during four separate sessions: 1) only clean pulls performed with a load equivalent to 80% 1 RM for five repetitions; 2) five repetitions of clean pulls with a load equivalent to 80% 1 RM performed at the end of a series of resistance exercises designed to develop power; 3) only clean pulls performed with loads undulating between sets (set 1: 80% 1 RM, five repetitions; set 2: 88% 1 RM, four repetitions; set 3: 90% 1 RM, four repetitions; set 4: 80% 1 RM, five repetitions); 4) clean pulls with loads undulating between sets performed at the end of a series of resistance exercises designed to develop power. The volume-load for all sessions was kept consistent and the order of the sessions was counterbalanced across Ss. The vertical position of the center of the bar was recorded during each clean pull repetition by a motion analysis system. Net power output during each repetition was then calculated using the work-energy relationship. The greatest value achieved during each set was recorded as peak power output. Mechanical work performed on the bar during each set was calculated by integrating net power output.

There were no significant differences reported for peak power output. Greater work was performed during set 4 compared to set 2 and set 3, while less work was performed in set 3 compared to set 1, regardless of the session. There were some notable individual responses to the differing sessions.

Implication. When group responses are assessed, manipulating the order in which resistance training exercises are performed or undulating the load during the sets does not affect peak power output or mechanical work of the set for clean pulls. There are large individual responses to those manipulations.

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