Influence of total repetitions per set on local muscular endurance : a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression

Objectives: To examine the effect of total repetitions per set on local muscular endurance (LME) assessed via maximal repetitions to concentric muscular failure using loads based on a percentage of pre-intervention one-repetition maximum (%1RMPRE) and post-intervention 1RM (%1RMPOST). News: Four electronic databases were searched using terms related to LME and resistance training. Studies were deemed eligible for inclusion if they met a strict criteria. Random effects (Hedges’ g) meta-analyses were undertaken to estimate the effect of lower versus higher repetitions on LME assessed via two methods. Possible predictors that may have influenced training-related effects were explored using univariate analyses. Fourteen studies were included in this review. There was a large effect in favour of a higher number of repetitions per set for LME assessed by %1RMPOST (g = 0.97, P < 0.001, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.40), but no difference when assessed by %1RMPRE (g = 0.09, P = 0.49, 95% CI −0.17 to 0.35). A sub-analysis revealed a large effect in favour of high repetitions (median range of 18–125) compared to moderate repetitions (median range of 7–13) for LME assessed by %1RMPOST (g = 1.08, P < 0.001, 95% CI = 0.60 to 1.56). “Changes in strength” moderated the lower versus higher repetition effects on LME assessed by %1RMPOST (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Resistance training with a higher number of repetitions (≥ 15) is more effective than lower repetitions for enhancing LME when assessed using a given percentage of post-intervention 1RM but not pre-intervention 1RM.