Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Sport Sciences for Health https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-019-00599-1 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Efects of cluster training sets on muscle power and force–velocity relationship in postmenopausal women Marcelo A. S. Carneiro 1  · Gersiel N. de Oliveira Júnior 1  · Jairo F. R. de Sousa 1  · Samarita B. Santagnello 1  · Markus V. C. Souza 1,2  · Fábio Lera Orsatti 1,2,3 Received: 9 May 2019 / Accepted: 17 October 2019 © Springer-Verlag Italia S.r.l., part of Springer Nature 2019 Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the higher load resistance training with a cluster training sets (CS) design maximizes muscle power and strength gains when compared to higher load resistance training with a traditional sets (TS) design in postmenopausal women (PW). Methods Each leg of 16 PW was randomly allocated into two groups: TS (n = 16 legs) and CS (n = 16 legs). Both groups performed three sets of four repetitions at 90% one repetition maximum (1RM), 3 s per muscle action, with a 1.5-min rest interval between sets, twice-weekly, for 8 weeks. Only CS group performed 30 s interrepetition rest periods. Results Both groups similarly increased (P < 0.05) thigh muscle mass, muscle strength (1RM), and maximal muscle power. However, whereas the CS increased (P < 0.05) peak power at 40% and theoretical maximal velocity (V 0 ), the TS increase theoretical maximal force (F 0 ). The TS reduced slope of the force–velocity relationship when compared to the CS. Conclusions Although both CS and TS design are similarly efective at improving muscle mass and strength and P max , TS and CS induce diferent changes in the force–velocity profle (S fv ) in PW. Thus, our fndings suggest that TS may be a prefer- ential RT design if the focus of training is a force–velocity profle more “force-oriented”, whereas CS may be a preferential RT design if the focus of training is a force–velocity profle more “velocity-oriented”. Keywords Interrepetition rest · Hypertrophy · Muscle strength · Older women Introduction It is well evidenced that muscle function (strength and power) progressively decline with aging [1]. A decline in muscle function lead to functional limitation and disabil- ity [2], which contribute to increased risks of falling [2, 3], hospitalization [4] and mortality [4, 5] in older people. Specifcally, older women have lower muscle function when compared to older men [6]. As the postmenopausal period is accompanied by an accentuated decline in muscle function [6–9], women show a more rapid decline in physical func- tion when compared to men during middle age [6, 8, 9]. Due to increased life expectancy, women spend one-third of their lives in a postmenopausal period. Consequently, the impact of impairments in muscle function on health care expend- iture is superior in older women than to older men [10]. Thus, improving muscle function in older people may have a positive impact on prevention of development of functional limitation and disability [3, 11], extending their healthspan [12], especially in postmenopausal women (PW). Resistance training (RT) is well accepted as an inter- vention to improve muscle strength and power in older people [3, 11, 13]. Diferent confgurations of RT vari- ables provoke diferent acute physiological and mechanical responses, leading to diferent muscular adaptations [3, 11, 13]. Hence, it is assumed that RT variable manipulations (i.e., load and introduce short interrepetition rest periods * Fábio Lera Orsatti fabiorsatti@gmail.com 1 Exercise Biology Research Group (BioEx), Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil 2 Department of Sport Sciences, Health Science Institute, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil 3 Post Graduate Program in Physical Education, Exercise Biology Research Laboratory (BioEx), Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro (UFTM), Avenue Tutunas, 490, Uberaba, Minas Gerais CEP 38061-500, Brazil