Background: Cluster sets (CSs) are a popular resistance training (RT) strategy categorised by short rest periods implemented between single or groups of repetitions. However, evidence supporting the effectiveness of CSs on acute intra-session neuromuscular performance is still equivocal. Objective: The objective of this investigation was to determine the efficacy of a single session of CSs to attenuate losses in force, velocity and power compared to traditional set (TS) training. Methods: Screening consisted of a systematic search of EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and SPORTDiscus. Inclusion criteria were (1) measured one or more of mean/peak force, velocity or power; (2) implemented CSs in comparison to TSs; (3) an acute design, or part thereof; and (4) published in an English-language, peer-reviewed journal. Raw data (mean ± standard deviation) were extracted from included studies and converted into standardised mean differences (SMDs) and ± 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Twenty-five studies were used to calculate SMD ± 95% CI. Peak (SMD = 0.815, 95% CI 0.105–1.524, p = 0.024) and mean (SMD = 0.863, 95% CI 0.319–1.406, p = 0.002) velocity, peak (SMD = 0.356, 95% CI 0.057–0.655, p = 0.019) and mean (SMD = 0.692, 95% CI 0.395–0.990, p < 0.001) power, and peak force (SMD = 0.306, 95% CI − 0.028 to 0.584, p = 0.031) favoured CS. Subgroup analyses demonstrated an overall effect for CS across loads (SMD = 0.702, 95% CI 0.548–0.856, p < 0.001), included exercises (SMD = 0.664, 95% CI 0.413–0.916, p < 0.001), experience levels (SMD = 0.790, 95% CI 0.500–1.080, p < 0.001) and CS structures (SMD = 0.731, 95% CI 0.567–0.894, p < 0.001) with no difference within subgroups. Conclusion: CSs are a useful strategy to attenuate the loss in velocity, power and peak force during RT and should be used to maintain neuromuscular performance, especially when kinetic outcomes are emphasised. However, it remains unclear if the benefits translate to improved performance across all RT exercises, between sexes and across the lifespan.

Powerlifting (PL) is characterised by the ability to generate maximal force. However, an understanding of the factors affecting strength in PL athletes is poorly understood. Therefore, competition data were analysed from 1368 individuals during 2017. Relative strength was compared for the squat (SQ), bench press (BP) and deadlift (DL) between age groups (Sub-junior [SJ], Junior [JU], Open [OP], and Masters’ I-IV [M1-M4]), weight classes (females; 47 kg, 52 kg, 57 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg, 84 kg and + 84 kg and males; 59 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg, 83 kg, 93 kg, 105 kg, 120 kg, + 120 kg) and between sexes. The results showed that relative strength was greater for males across all lifts (P < 0.001). Relative strength tended to decrease with increasing body mass for males (SQ, BP and DL: P < 0.001, R² = 0.9306–0.9763) and females (SQ, BP and DL: P < 0.001, R² = 0.9485–0.9802), and with increasing age for males (SQ, BP and DL: P < 0.001, R² = 0.4742–0.6729), and females (SQ: P < 0.001, BP: P = 0.002 and DL: P = 0.001, R² = 0.0844–0.3705), respectively. The findings offer important information regarding factors that affect strength performance in athletes. Coaches should consider the factors influencing strength when developing resistance training programmes or in longer term athletic development for powerlifters and other strength based sports.

Latella, C, Teo, W-P, Spathis, J, and van den Hoek, D. Long-term strength adaptation: A 15-year analysis of powerlifting athletes. J Strength Cond Res 34(9): 2412–2418, 2020—Strength is a fundamental component of athletic performance and development. This investigation examined the long-term strength development of powerlifting (PL) athletes. The rate of strength gain/day was assessed in 1897 PL athletes (F = 626, M = 1,271) over a 15-year period (2003–2018). Independent T-tests explored sex differences in baseline absolute (kg) and relative strength (kg·body mass⁻¹ [bm]) recorded from the first competition, and strength gain/day (kg·d⁻¹). Analyses based on initial strength quartiles were conducted using one-way analysis of variances with significance set at p < 0.05. Bivariate correlational analysis tested for relationships between strength gain/day and baseline strength, the number of competitions, and mean days between competitions. Males had greater absolute (M: 513.3 ± 99.8 kg, F: 289.4 ± 55.7 kg, p < 0.001) and relative (M: 5.89 ± 1.04 kg·bm⁻¹, F: 4.27 ± 0.85 kg·bm⁻¹, p < 0.001) strength at baseline. Overall, strength gain/day (F: 0.12 ± 0.69 kg·d⁻¹, M: 0.15 ± 0.44 kg·d⁻¹, p = 0.318) was similar between sexes. However, the strongest males showed a lower rate of strength improvement (0.102 kg·d⁻¹) compared with least strong males (0.211 kg·d⁻¹), p = 0.010. No differences were observed across quartiles for females. Correlational analyses revealed significant but weak negative relationships between strength gain/day and the mean days between competitions for females (r ² = −0.120, p = 0.003) and males (r ² = −0.190, p < 0.001). Similar relationships were observed for baseline strength (r ² = −0.073, p = 0.009) and the number of competitions (r ² = −0.111, p < 0.001) for males. The results suggest similar strength adaptation between sexes. The strongest males improve more slowly, possibly due to a ceiling effect. Collectively, the findings provide novel evidence of real-world long-term strength adaptations that may be particularly useful to understand athlete development, to aid periodized programming, and to benchmark strength over time.

The ongoing global pandemic brought about by Coronavirus II (SARS-Cov-2 or COVID-19) has caused an ongoing cessation of sporting competitions and training facility closures. This is a fundamental challenge for amateur and elite sporting professionals. Although recommendations have been provided for team-sport athletes to maintain general and sport-specific conditioning, these methods are often not optimal for strength athletes (i.e., powerlifting (PL) and weightlifting (WL)) due to the unique and narrow set of performance requirements posed by these sports. The purpose of this review is to provide evidence-based information and recommendations and highlight potential strategies and approaches that may be used by strength (PL and WL) athletes during the current global crisis. Collectively, we provide evidence from resistance training literature regarding the loss of muscle strength, power and mass, minimum training frequencies required to attenuate such losses and training re-adaptation. Additionally, we suggest that time off training and competition caused by ongoing restrictions may be used for other purposes, such as overcoming injury and improving movement quality and/or mobility, goal setting, psychological development and emphasizing strength sports for health. These suggestions are intended to be useful for coaches, strength athletes and organizations where existing training strategies and recommendations are not suitable or no longer feasible.