Table 2 Training characteristics of included studies on load autoregulation
Study | Group | Prescription | Length (weeks) | Frequency (days/week) | Sets difference | Repetitions difference | Average total volume difference | Average relative intensity difference | Outcomes of interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arede et al. [23] | PBT | Exercises: Back squat, bench press, hip thrust, shoulder press Week 1–4: 3 sets per exercise Week 5–8: 4 sets per exercise PBT group: 10 repetitions to failure RPE group: 7 repetitions to 7 RPE with set-to-set load adjustments of 2% increase/decrease per 0.5 RPE rating below/above RPE target | 8 | 2 | Matched | PBT: 2240 RPE: 1568 | Greater for PBT | No significant difference | 1RM back squat; 1RM bench press |
RPE | |||||||||
Banyard et al. [22] | PBT | All sessions: 5 sets of 5 repetitions in back squat at loads ranging from ~ 59 to 85% of 1RM PBT group: Relative load based on pre-test 1RM VBT group: Sessional target velocity from individualized load-velocity profile and mean velocity table corresponding to identical relative load as PBT group with set-to-set load adjustments of 5% increase/decrease per 0.06 m.s−1 below/above the target velocity of all repetitions average velocity within set | 6 | 3 | Matched | Matched | No significant difference | No significant difference | 1RM back squat |
VBT | |||||||||
Dorrell et al. [15] | PBT | Integrated periodization structure comprised of compound exercises (back squat, bench press, deadlift, overhead press) and supplementary exercises PBT group: Relative load based on pre-test 1RM VBT group: Group velocity zones established from published data and pre-test 1RM corresponding to identical relative loads as PBT group with the integration of velocity stops at 20% below the target group velocity zone and set-to-set load adjustments if velocity outside target group velocity zone | 6 | 2 | Matched | Intended to be matched | Average relative volume load: Significantly greater in back squat for PBT (p = 0.033) Significantly greater in bench press for PBT (p = 0.019) No significant difference in deadlift (p = 0.398) Significantly greater in overhead press for PBT (p = 0.049) | NR | 1RM back squat; 1RM bench press; 1RM deadlift; 1RM overhead press |
VBT | |||||||||
Dorrell et al. [18] | Group VBT | Integrated periodization structure comprised of back squat and supplementary exercises Group VBT group: Group load-velocity profiles established from pre-test 1RM with target velocity corresponding to prescribed relative loads with the integration of velocity stops if a repetition velocity was below the target group velocity zone and set-to-set load adjustments based on group load-velocity profiles Individualized VBT group: Individualized load-velocity profiles established from pre-test 1RM with target velocity corresponding to prescribed relative loads with the integration of velocity stops if a repetition velocity was below the target individualized velocity zone and set-to-set load adjustments based on individualized load-velocity profiles | 6 | 2 | Matched | Intended to be matched | Average total volume load: No significant difference (p = 0.632) | NR | 1RM back squat |
Individualized VBT | |||||||||
Graham and Cleather [20] | PBT | Session 1: Front squat Session 2: Back squat Week 1–4: 3 sets of 10 repetitions per exercise Week 5–8: 4 sets of 5 repetitions per exercise Week 9–12: 3 sets of 3 repetitions per exercise PBT group: Relative load based on pre-test 1RM corresponding to 65, 67.5, 70, 72.5, 77.5, 80, 82.5, 85, 87.5, 90, 92.5, and 95% of 1RM for each single respective week from week 1–12 RPE group: Relative load intended to correspond similarly to PBT group and corresponding to 6, 7, 8, 9, 6, 7, 8, 9, 8, 9, 10, maximum RPE each single respective week from week 1–12 | 12 | 2 | Matched | Matched | Average weekly volume load: No significant difference in combined back squat and front squat (p = 0.088) | Significantly greater in back squat for RPE (p = 0.006) Significantly greater in front squat for RPE (p < 0.001) | 1RM back squat; 1RM front squat |
RPE | |||||||||
Helms et al. [21] | PBT | Integrated periodization structure comprised of back squat and bench press Week 1 and 8: 2 sets per exercise Week 2–7: 3 sets per exercise PBT group: Relative load based on pre-test 1RM corresponding to 65–92.5% of 1RM RPE group: Relative load intended to correspond similarly to PBT group and corresponding to 5–10 RPE with set-to-set load adjustments of 2% increase/decrease per 0.5 RPE rating below/above RPE target | 8 | 3 | Matched | Matched | Average relative volume load: No significant difference in back squat (p = 0.66) Significantly greater in bench press for RPE (p = 0.03) | No significant difference in back squat (p = 0.49) Significantly greater in bench press for RPE (p < 0.001) | 1RM back squat; 1RM bench press; MT vastus lateralis at 50%; MT vastus lateralis at 70%; MT pectoralis major |
RPE | |||||||||
Orange et al. [19] | PBT | Exercises: Back squat and supplementary exercises Session 1: Back squat at 60% of 1RM Session 2: Back squat at 80% of 1RM PBT group: Relative load based on pre-test 1RM VBT group: Sessional target velocity from individualized load-velocity profile corresponding to identical relative load as PBT group with set-to-set load adjustments of 5% increase/decrease per 0.06 m.s−1 below/above target velocity of first repetition velocity within set | 7 | 2 | Matched | Matched | No significant difference | No significant difference | 1RM back squat |
VBT | |||||||||
Shattock and Tee [16] | Group 1 | Comprised of compound exercises and supplementary exercises Week 1–6: Maximal-strength block Week 7–12: Strength-speed block VBT prescription: Group velocity zones established from published data with target velocity corresponding to prescribed relative loads with set-to-set load adjustments if velocity outside target group velocity zone RPE prescription: Relative load intended to correspond similarly to VBT prescription with load dictated via RPE and set-to-set load adjustments if RPE outside target RPE zone | 12 | Week 1–6 = 4 Week 7–12 = 3 | Matched | Matched | No significant difference | NR | 1RM back squat; 1RM bench press |
Group 2 |