Purpose: With the development of more intense and complex strength and conditioning programs, it is necessary to discover the best possible means of recovery during workout sessions to increase athletic performance. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of active recovery during the rest periods of a resistance training session on lactate clearance in varsity collegiate athletes.
Methods: Twenty healthy varsity collegiate athletes age 18-22 yr participated in a collegiate strength and conditioning workout session. Participants were randomly divided into an active recovery group (A.R.) and a passive recovery group (P.R.). Both groups performed 5 exercises for 2 sets of 8 repetitions at 70% 1RM, with 3 minutes of recovery between each set. The exercises were performed in the following order: Power Clean, Barbell Squat, Barbell Bench Press, Barbell Bent-Over Row, and Kettlebell swings. A.R. consisted of cycling on a Monark cycle ergometer at minimum resistance at 60 rpm during each 3 minute rest period, while P.R. remained stationary for the duration of the rest period. The blood lactate levels were recorded during each 2nd rest period utilizing finger prick blood analysis via Nova blood lactate analyzers. The changes in blood lactate were compared between A.R. and P.R. groups using a 5 x 2 repeated measures ANOVA statistical analysis.
Results: The repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference of blood lactate levels between groups overall during the workout session. However, the results yielded a strong trend between groups during the power clean exercise circuit; p=.053.
Conclusions: There were no significant differences between A.R and P.R. groups during the overall resistance training session, but significant differences between groups during power cleans, revealing that active recovery interventions may be beneficial if performed after more strenuous, full-body resistance training movements.
","abstract_html":"<p>Purpose: With the development of more intense and complex strength and conditioning programs, it is necessary to discover the best possible means of recovery during workout sessions to increase athletic performance. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of active recovery during the rest periods of a resistance training session on lactate clearance in varsity collegiate athletes. </p> <p>Methods: Twenty healthy varsity collegiate athletes age 18-22 yr participated in a collegiate strength and conditioning workout session. Participants were randomly divided into an active recovery group (A.R.) and a passive recovery group (P.R.). Both groups performed 5 exercises for 2 sets of 8 repetitions at 70% 1RM, with 3 minutes of recovery between each set. The exercises were performed in the following order: Power Clean, Barbell Squat, Barbell Bench Press, Barbell Bent-Over Row, and Kettlebell swings. A.R. consisted of cycling on a Monark cycle ergometer at minimum resistance at 60 rpm during each 3 minute rest period, while P.R. remained stationary for the duration of the rest period. The blood lactate levels were recorded during each 2nd rest period utilizing finger prick blood analysis via Nova blood lactate analyzers. The changes in blood lactate were compared between A.R. and P.R. groups using a 5 x 2 repeated measures ANOVA statistical analysis. </p> <p>Results: The repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference of blood lactate levels between groups overall during the workout session. However, the results yielded a strong trend between groups during the power clean exercise circuit; p=.053. </p> <p>Conclusions: There were no significant differences between A.R and P.R. groups during the overall resistance training session, but significant differences between groups during power cleans, revealing that active recovery interventions may be beneficial if performed after more strenuous, full-body resistance training movements. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Perry, Christopher Alexander"],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Master's","degree_discipline":"Exercise and Sport Science","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:25Z","subjects":["active recovery","athletes","high intensity","lactate","resistance training","Exercise Physiology"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2014 Christopher Alexander Perry"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/225","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Perry, Christopher Alexander"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Exercise and Sport Science"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["active recovery","athletes","high intensity","lactate","resistance training","Exercise Physiology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2014 Christopher Alexander Perry"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/225"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Purpose: With the development of more intense and complex strength and conditioning programs, it is necessary to discover the best possible means of recovery during workout sessions to increase athletic performance. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of active recovery during the rest periods of a resistance training session on lactate clearance in varsity collegiate athletes.
Methods: Twenty healthy varsity collegiate athletes age 18-22 yr participated in a collegiate strength and conditioning workout session. Participants were randomly divided into an active recovery group (A.R.) and a passive recovery group (P.R.). Both groups performed 5 exercises for 2 sets of 8 repetitions at 70% 1RM, with 3 minutes of recovery between each set. The exercises were performed in the following order: Power Clean, Barbell Squat, Barbell Bench Press, Barbell Bent-Over Row, and Kettlebell swings. A.R. consisted of cycling on a Monark cycle ergometer at minimum resistance at 60 rpm during each 3 minute rest period, while P.R. remained stationary for the duration of the rest period. The blood lactate levels were recorded during each 2nd rest period utilizing finger prick blood analysis via Nova blood lactate analyzers. The changes in blood lactate were compared between A.R. and P.R. groups using a 5 x 2 repeated measures ANOVA statistical analysis.
Results: The repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference of blood lactate levels between groups overall during the workout session. However, the results yielded a strong trend between groups during the power clean exercise circuit; p=.053.
Conclusions: There were no significant differences between A.R and P.R. groups during the overall resistance training session, but significant differences between groups during power cleans, revealing that active recovery interventions may be beneficial if performed after more strenuous, full-body resistance training movements.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Effects of Active Recovery during High Intensity Resistance Training on Lactate Clearance in Collegiate Athletes"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Perry, Christopher Alexander"],"dc:description.abstract":["Purpose: With the development of more intense and complex strength and conditioning programs, it is necessary to discover the best possible means of recovery during workout sessions to increase athletic performance. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of active recovery during the rest periods of a resistance training session on lactate clearance in varsity collegiate athletes.
Methods: Twenty healthy varsity collegiate athletes age 18-22 yr participated in a collegiate strength and conditioning workout session. Participants were randomly divided into an active recovery group (A.R.) and a passive recovery group (P.R.). Both groups performed 5 exercises for 2 sets of 8 repetitions at 70% 1RM, with 3 minutes of recovery between each set. The exercises were performed in the following order: Power Clean, Barbell Squat, Barbell Bench Press, Barbell Bent-Over Row, and Kettlebell swings. A.R. consisted of cycling on a Monark cycle ergometer at minimum resistance at 60 rpm during each 3 minute rest period, while P.R. remained stationary for the duration of the rest period. The blood lactate levels were recorded during each 2nd rest period utilizing finger prick blood analysis via Nova blood lactate analyzers. The changes in blood lactate were compared between A.R. and P.R. groups using a 5 x 2 repeated measures ANOVA statistical analysis.
Results: The repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference of blood lactate levels between groups overall during the workout session. However, the results yielded a strong trend between groups during the power clean exercise circuit; p=.053.
Conclusions: There were no significant differences between A.R and P.R. groups during the overall resistance training session, but significant differences between groups during power cleans, revealing that active recovery interventions may be beneficial if performed after more strenuous, full-body resistance training movements.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/225"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2014 Christopher Alexander Perry"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["active recovery","athletes","high intensity","lactate","resistance training","Exercise Physiology"],"dc:title":["The Effects of Active Recovery during High Intensity Resistance Training on Lactate Clearance in Collegiate Athletes"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Exercise and Sport Science"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:25Z"}