Metabolic Responses of Eccentric Accentuated Flywheel Squats by a Multi-set Protocol with Increasing Loads

Abstract Inertia-based resistance exercise with flywheels leads to strong acute metabolic responses. However, the metabolic kinetics during a multi-set flywheel squat protocol with increasing loads remains unknown. The aim of the study was to assess the course of blood lactate concentrations (BLC), oxygen uptake (VO 2 ), heart rate (HR) and power during a multi-set protocol of flywheel squat training. Seventeen recreationally trained healthy men (24.3 ± 3.8 years, BMI 24.1 ± 2.2, VO 2max 49.4 ± 6.9 mL/min/kg) completed 5 sets and 15 repetitions flywheel squats. The BLC ( ŋ 2 = 0.932), VO 2 ( ŋ 2 = 0.899) and HR ( ŋ 2 = 0.879) increased significantly over the sets ( P < 0.05). %HR max and %VO 2max increased significantly from pre to post-loading ( P < 0.001), reaching a threshold of 80% HR max after set 2 and 60% VO 2max after set 4, respectively. The power parameters P MEAN ( ŋ 2 = 0.191), P ECC ( ŋ 2 = 0.149) and P CON ( ŋ 2 = 0.062) showed significant decreases after set 2 ( P < 0.05). A multi-set flywheel squat protocol with increasing loads leads to high metabolic and cardiorespiratory demands, which appear to increase linearly with an increase in inertial load.