The effect of time-under-tension and weight lifting cadence on aerobic, anaerobic, and recovery energy expenditures: 3 submaximal sets

We examined the aerobic and anaerobic energy expenditures of weight lifting (bench press); submaximal work was kept constant among protocols. Ten male subjects (age, 23.2 ± 3.1 years; height, 177.3 ± 5.3 cm; weight, 82.1 ± 11.5 kg) were randomly assigned to 3 lifting sessions of 3 sets of 5 repetitions at 70% 1 repetition maximum (1RM) using 3 lifting cadences: 1.5 s down and 1.5 s up (15 s per set), 4 s down and 1 s up (25 s per set), and 1 s down and 4 s up (25 s per set). No differences were found among the aerobic exercise energy expenditures for each lifting cadence. However, anaerobic energy expenditure was significantly different among protocols: 1.5 down–1.5 up, 16.5 ± 8.1 kJ; 4 down–1 up, 21.6 ± 8.1 kJ; and 1 down–4 up, 26.7 ± 7.2 kJ (p = 0.001). Excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC; after each set) was lower for 1.5 down–1.5 up, 38.6 ± 17.8 kJ; versus 4 down–1 up, 50.2 ± 23.5 kJ; and 1 down–4 up, 50.0 ± 22.6 kJ (p = 0.002). Total energy expenditure also was significantly less for 1.5 up–1.5 down, 60.2 ± 23.8 kJ; versus 4 down–1 up, 80.0 ± 27.7 kJ; and 1 down–4 up, 84.2 ± 28.3 kJ (p = 0.001). Differences in EPOC and total energy expenditure with submaximal lifting were based not on the amount of work performed or with a particular eccentric–concentric cadence, but on the time to completion of the weight lifting exercise – time-under-tension; longer submaximal lifting times had greater energy expenditure.