Faigenbaum, A., Westcott, W., Long, C., Delmonico, M., Barr, S., & Michelli, L. (1998). Relationship between repetitions and selected percentages of the 1 RM in 8 to 13 year old children. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30(5), Supplement abstract 837.

The relationship between repetitions and selected percentages of 1 RM in children (M = 6; F = 7; age=10.7 yr) were determined for the Heartline chest press and the Nautilus leg press exercises.

At 50% of the 1 RM weight there was a significant difference between the number of repetitions performed for each exercise, the leg press repetitions being more than three times those of the chest press. At 62% and 75% the leg press repetitions were 88.5% and 62.3% greater than the chest press.

In children, as the percentage of 1 RM is lowered in a resistance exercise, the number of repetitions that can be performed to maximum increases. Exercises at low resistances vary greatly in the number of repetitions that can be performed to maximum.

Implication. Prescribing resistances and number of repetitions for children in resistance programs will be largely guess work since each exercise response depends upon the exercise and the level of resistance.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.