Páez-Maldonado, José AntonioCornejo Daza, Pedro JesúsSánchez-Valdepeñas Mateos-Aparicio, JuanSánchez-Moreno, MiguelPiqueras-Sanchiz, FranciscoOrtega Becerra, Manuel AlejandroPareja Blanco, Fernando2026-07-202026-07-202024Páez-Maldonado JA, Cornejo-Daza PJ, Sánchez-Valdepeñas J, Sánchez-Moreno M, Piqueras-Sanchiz F, Ortega-Becerra M and Pareja-Blanco F (2024) Cluster sets lead to better performance maintenance and minimize training-induced fatigue than traditional sets. Front. Sports Act. Living 6:1467348. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2024.146734810.3389/fspor.2024.1467348https://hdl.handle.net/10433/27249Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the acute effects on mechanical, neuromuscular, metabolic, and muscle contractile responses to different set configurations in full-squat (SQ).Methods: Twenty-two men performed three SQ sessions that consisted of 3 sets of 12 repetitions with 60% 1RM with 4 minutes inter-set rests: a) traditional set (TS): no rest within the set; b) cluster-6 (CS6): a 30 seconds intraset rest after the 6th repetition of each set; and c) cluster-2 (CS2): a 30 seconds intraset rest every 2 repetitions. Mechanical (i.e., force, velocity, and power) and electromyography (EMG) values were recorded for every repetition. A battery of tests was performed: a) tensiomyography (TMG), b) blood lactate c), countermovement jump (CMJ), d) maximal isometric SQ, and e) performance with the load that resulted in a velocity of 1 m·s−1 at baseline (V1-load). Repeated measured ANOVA analyses were used to compare the 3 protocols.Results: As the number of intraset rests increased (TS < CS6 < CS2), mechanical performance was better maintained (p < 0.01) and EMG variables were less altered (p = 0.05). At post, CS2 and CS6 displayed lower lactate concentration, lesser reductions in CMJ height, and smaller alterations in TMG-derived variables than TS (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The introduction of short and frequent intraset rest periods during resistance exercise alleviates training-induced fatigue, resulting in better maintenance of performance. This approach can be applied during the in-season period when minimizing fatigue is a priority. 1 Introductionapplication/pdfenAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Resistance trainingVelocity-based trainingLactateElectromyographyTensiomyographyjournal articleopen access