Effects of Rest Periods of Various Lengths on the Consistency of Maximal Performance on a Muscular Endurance Test

Abstract

Abstract Thirty-four college men were administered the maximum-dip test during eight consecutive, regularly scheduled physical education class periods. The maximum number of dips possible was measured for continuous, all-out effort and for effort with 5, 7, or 10 sec. of rest between each two dips. Each of these four testing conditions was repeated on the next testing day after original measurement. Coefficients of correlation were computed between maximum-dip performances in the four exercise programs. The degree of relationship became increasingly smaller as the rest period increased in length. More than half of the predictive values of continuous, maximum effort was lost in the program with 10 sec. of rest. Considerable variability was observed in the degree of gain in total dips as rest periods of varying lengths were interjected. The nature of the work load is an important factor in interpreting endurance studies.