Table 4 Training characteristics of included studies on volume autoregulation
Study | Group | Prescription | Length (weeks) | Frequency (days/week) | Sets difference | Repetitions differencea | Average relative volume difference | Average relative intensity difference | Outcomes of interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Galiano et al. [27] | VL5 | Smith machine back squat, 3 sets per session, each group terminated each set at respective VL threshold, 3 min inter-set rest, absolute loads adjusted for each session from the first repetition of the first set to ensure velocity (± 0.03 m.s−1) matched prescribed % of 1RM (based on 50% of 1RM corresponding to 1.14 m.s−1) Session 1–14: 50% of 1RM | 7 | 2 | Matched | VL5: 156.9 ± 25.0 VL20: 480.5 ± 162.0 | Significantly greater for VL20 | No significant difference | 1RM smith machine back squat |
VL20 | |||||||||
Held et al. [28] | VL10 | Power clean + back squat + bench row + deadlift + bench press, 4 sets per exercise per session, VL10 group terminated each set at VL10 threshold and TRF group performed each set to- repetition-failure, 2–3 min inter-set rest Session 1–16: 80% of 1RM Day 1: 40 min of supplementary training Day 2: Resistance training, 90 min of low-intensity rowing Day 3: 90 min of low-intensity rowing, 60 min of optional low-intensity cross-training (running and biking) Day 4: 120 min of low-intensity cross-training (running and biking) Day 5: Resistance training, 60 min of low-intensity cross-training (running and biking) Day 6: 90 min of low-intensity rowing, 120 min of optional low-intensity cross-training (running and biking) Day 7: 3 sets of 2000 m high-intensity rowing | 8 | 2 | Matched | VL10: 2145 ± 285 TRF: 2825 ± 100 | Significantly greater for TRF | No significant difference | 1RM back squat; 1RM bench press; 1RM deadlift; 1RM bench row |
TRF | |||||||||
Pareja-Blanco et al. [29] | VL15 | Smith machine back squat, 2–3 sets per session, each group terminated each set at respective VL threshold, 4 min inter-set rest, absolute loads adjusted for each session from the first repetition of the first set to ensure velocity (± 0.03 m.s−1) matched prescribed % of 1RM (based on 50% of 1RM corresponding to 1.13 m.s−1, 55% of 1RM to 1.06 m.s−1, 60% of 1RM to 0.98 m.s−1, 65% of 1RM to 0.90 m.s−1, and 70% of 1RM to 0.82 m.s−1) Session 1–3: 50% of 1RM Session 4–6: 55% of 1RM Session 7–10: 60% of 1RM Session 11–14: 65% of 1RM Session 15–17: 70% of 1RM Session 18: 60% of 1RM | 6 | 3 | Matched | VL15: 251.2 ± 55.4 VL30: 414.6 ± 124.9 | Significantly greater for VL30 | No significant difference | 1RM smith machine back squat |
VL30 | |||||||||
Pareja-Blanco et al. [30] | VL20 | Smith machine back squat, 3 sets per session, each group terminated each set at respective VL threshold, 4 min inter-set rest, absolute loads adjusted for each session from the first repetition of the first set to ensure velocity (± 0.03 m.s−1) matched prescribed % of 1RM (based on 70% of 1RM corresponding to 0.82 m.s−1, 75% of 1RM to 0.75 m.s−1, 80% of 1RM to 0.68 m.s−1, and 85% of 1RM to 0.60 m.s−1) Session 1–6: 70% of 1RM Session 7–10: 75% of 1RM Session 11–13: 80% of 1RM Session 14–16: 85% of 1RM | 8 | 2 | Matched | VL20: 185.9 ± 22.2 VL40: 310.5 ± 42.0 | Significantly greater for VL40 | No significant difference | 1RM smith machine back squat; CSA rectus femoris; CSA vastus lateralis + vastus intermedius; CSA vastus medialis |
VL40 | |||||||||
Pareja-Blanco et al. [31] | VL0 | Smith machine back squat, 3 sets per session, each group terminated each set at respective VL threshold, 4 min inter-set rest, absolute loads adjusted for each session from the first repetition of the first set to ensure velocity (± 0.03 m.s−1) matched prescribed % of 1RM (based on individualized load-velocity profile) Session 1–5: 70% of 1RM Session 6–10: 75% of 1RM Session 11–14: 80% of 1RM Session 15–16: 85% of 1RM | 8 | 2 | Matched | VL0: 48.0 ± 0.0 VL10: 143.6 ± 40.2 VL20: 168.5 ± 47.4 VL40: 305.6 ± 81.7 | VL40 significantly greater than VL0, VL10, and VL20; VL10 and VL20 significantly greater than VL0; No significant difference between VL10 and VL20 | No significant difference | 1RM smith machine back squat; CSA vastus lateralis |
VL10 | |||||||||
VL20 | |||||||||
VL40 | |||||||||
Pareja-Blanco et al. [32] | VL0 | Smith machine bench press, 3 sets per session, each group terminated each set at respective VL threshold, 4 min inter-set rest, absolute loads adjusted for each session from the first repetition of the first set to ensure velocity (± 0.03 m.s−1) matched prescribed % of 1RM (based on individualized load-velocity profile) Session 1–5: 70% of 1RM Session 6–10: 75% of 1RM Session 11–14: 80% of 1RM Session 15–16: 85% of 1RM | 8 | 2 | Matched | VL0: 48.0 ± 0.0 VL15: 136.6 ± 17.8 VL25: 191.1 ± 34.1 VL50: 316.4 ± 65.1 | VL50 significantly greater than VL0, VL15, and VL25; VL15 and VL25 significantly greater than VL0; No significant difference between VL15 and VL25 | No significant difference | 1RM smith machine bench press; CSA pectoralis major |
VL15 | |||||||||
VL25 | |||||||||
VL50 | |||||||||
Rodiles-Guerrero et al. [33] | VL10 | Weight stack bench press, 4 sets per session, each group terminated each set at respective VL threshold, 3 min inter-set rest, absolute loads adjusted for each session from the first repetition of the first set to ensure velocity (± 0.03 m.s−1) matched prescribed % of 1RM (based on 65% of 1RM corresponding to 0.67 m.s−1, 70% of 1RM to 0.60 m.s−1, 75% of 1RM to 0.53 m.s−1, 80% of 1RM to 0.46 m.s−1, and 85% of 1RM to 0.39 m.s−1) Session 1–3: 65% of 1RM Session 4–6: 70% of 1RM Session 7–9: 75% of 1RM Session 10–12: 80% of 1RM Session 13–15: 85% of 1RM | 5 | 3 | Matched | VL10: 211.1 ± 17.3 VL30: 398.1 ± 61.4 VL50: 444.4 ± 51.9 | VL50 significantly greater than VL30 and VL10; VL30 significantly greater than VL10 | No significant difference | 1RM weight stack bench press |
VL30 | |||||||||
VL50 | |||||||||
RodrÃguez-Rosell et al. [34] | VL10 | Smith machine back squat, 3 sets per session, each group terminated each set at respective VL threshold, 4 min inter-set rest, absolute loads adjusted for each session from the first repetition of the first set to ensure velocity (± 0.03 m.s−1) matched prescribed % of 1RM (based on 70% of 1RM corresponding to 0.84 m.s−1, 75% of 1RM to 0.75 m.s−1, 80% of 1RM to 0.68 m.s−1, and 85% of 1RM to 0.60 m.s−1) Session 1–6: 70% of 1RM Session 7–10: 75% of 1RM Session 11–13: 80% of 1RM Session 14–16: 85% of 1RM | 8 | 2 | Matched | VL10: 109.6 ± 2.0 VL30: 228.0 ± 76.6 | VL30 significantly greater than VL10 | No significant difference | 1RM smith machine back squat |
VL30 | |||||||||
RodrÃguez-Rosell et al. [35] | VL10 | Smith machine back squat, 3 sets per session, each group terminated each set at respective VL threshold, 4 min inter-set rest, absolute loads adjusted for each session from the first repetition of the first set to ensure velocity (± 0.03 m.s−1) matched prescribed % of 1RM (based on 55% of 1RM corresponding to 1.08 m.s−1, 60% of 1RM to 1.00 m.s−1, 65% of 1RM to 0.92 m.s−1, and 70% of 1RM to 0.84 m.s−1) Session 1–5: 55% of 1RM Session 6–9: 60% of 1RM Session 10–13: 65% of 1RM Session 14–16: 70% of 1RM | 8 | 2 | Matched | VL10: 180.8 ± 29.0 VL30: 347.9 ± 62.3 VL45: 501.1 ± 106.8 | VL45 significantly greater than VL30 and VL10; VL30 significantly greater than VL10 | No significant difference | 1RM smith machine back squat |
VL30 | |||||||||
VL45 | |||||||||
Sánchez-Moreno et al. [36] | VL25 | Body mass prone-grip pullup, each group terminated each set at respective VL threshold, 3-min inter-set rest Session 1–3: 2 sets Session 4–8: 3 sets Session 9–14: 4 sets Session 15: 3 sets Session 16: 2 sets | 8 | 2 | Matched | VL25: 363.0 ± 84.6 VL50: 556.3 ± 121.9 | VL50 significantly greater than VL25 | No significant difference | 1RM body mass prone-grip pullup |
VL50 |