What is the actual relative intensity of a resistance training program for men and women?

BACKGROUND: Differences related to sexual characteristics are directly linked to the mechanisms responsible for adaptations from resistance training (RT). Due to these differences, men and women may perform their RT programs at different percentages of maximum strength even when executing the same number of repetitions. OBJECTIVE: To compare the relative repetition maximum (%1RM) at which men and women perform RT in a program controlling repetitions/set. METHODS: Thirty men (22.7 ± 4.4 years, 68.4 ± 9.0 kg, 174.5 ± 6.6 cm), and 34 women (22.7 ± 4.1 years, 58.8 ± 11.9 kg, 162.6 ± 6.2 cm) performed 16 weeks of RT, 3 times per week using 3 sets of 8–12 RM. Anthropometric measurements and 1RM test in bench press (BP), and arm curl (AC) were obtained at baseline and after the RT program. RESULTS: Women performed the training in BP at a higher %1RM than men ( P 0.05). There was not significant main effect for AC ( P> 0.05) indicating no change in %1RM at which each sex exercised. CONCLUSION: We conclude that men and women perform RT at different %1RM in BP, except for the AC during a RT program utilizing 8–12 RM per set.