Self-Selected Resistance Training Intensity in Healthy Women:
The Influence of a Personal Trainer

The purpose of the investigation was to examine the influence of resistance training with a personal trainer versus unsupervised resistance training on the self-selected intensities used by women during resistance exercise.  Forty-six resistance-trained women (age = 26.6 ± 6.4 years) who either trained individually or with a personal trainer were carefully instructed to select a weight they used in their own resistance training workouts that enabled the completion of 10 repetitions for the chest press (CP), leg press (LP), seated row (SR), and leg extension (LE) exercises.  Each participant was subsequently tested for one repetition-maximum (1RM) strength on each exercise.

Ratings of perceived exertion values were significantly greater in the personal trainer compared with the NO personal trainer group for CP, LE, and SR but not LP.

These results indicate that resistance training under the supervision of a personal trainer leads to greater initial 1RM strength values, self-selection of greater workout intensities, and greater ratings of perceived exertion values during resistance exercise.

The critical finding of the investigation was that the majority of healthy women tested in health clubs self-selected resistance training intensities that were considered relatively low.

Thus, individuals appear to train at greater relative intensities and progress at a greater rate when their workouts are supervised by a personal trainer.

Source: The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, NSCA, Vol. 22, #1, Jan. '08