The effects of traditional and autoregulation priming methods on neuromuscular performance and recovery outcomes in rugby players: a randomized cross-over trial

The effects of traditional and autoregulation priming methods on neuromuscular performance and recovery outcomes in rugby players: a randomized cross-over trial | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article The effects of traditional and autoregulation priming methods on neuromuscular performance and recovery outcomes in rugby players: a randomized cross-over trial Cailean MacDonald, Mykolas Kavaliauskas, Janice Buchanan, Milan Marinkovic, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6369582/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 22 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in Sport Sciences for Health → Version 1 posted 8 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Purpose We investigated the effects of traditional (TRA) and two autoregulation resistance priming methods—Objective Autoregulation Rest-Redistribution Training (O-ARRT) and Subjective Autoregulation Rest-Redistribution Training (S-ARRT)—on neuromuscular performance and recovery in highly trained rugby players during competitive microcycles. Methods Twelve athletes completed a randomized, crossover trial consisting of three sessions involving the barbell back squat exercise, matched for volume (24 repetitions), load (80% of 1RM), and total rest time (540 seconds), but differing in set structure. We assessed neuromuscular performance monitoring barbell velocity and mechanical outputs during a countermovement jump, as well as recovery via rating of fatigue, delayed onset of muscle soreness, and perceived recovery status responses. Results The O-ARRT method resulted in significantly higher mean session barbell velocity compared to both TRA (p < 0.001, b = 0.032 [95% CI: 0.015, 0.049]) and S-ARRT (p < 0.001, b = 0.031 [95% CI: 0.017, 0.045]). Additionally, O-ARRT induced a delayed neuromuscular potentiation on braking impulse (P = 0.039, b = 12.2 [95% CI: 0.7, 23.7]) and resulted in greater recovery of perceived fatigue on match day compared to TRA (P = 0.033, b = -0.98 [95% CI: -1.88, -0.08]) compared to TRA. Despite using an autoregulatory approach, S-ARRT induced outcomes similar to TRA, likely due to sets terminating close to failure. Perceived recovery and delayed onset of muscle soreness were similar across the three RT methods on match day. Conclusions These findings suggest that O-ARRT may be an effective strategy for optimizing performance and facilitating recovery during competitive microcycles. Autonomy Fatigue Resistance Training Strength Team Sport Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 22 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in Sport Sciences for Health → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 21 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 07 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Jun, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 25 Jun, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 04 Apr, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 04 Apr, 2025 First submitted to journal 03 Apr, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6369582","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":477260233,"identity":"3e692a39-3c26-48d0-bd08-8b2149c7bd5e","order_by":0,"name":"Cailean MacDonald","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of the West of Scotland","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Cailean","middleName":"","lastName":"MacDonald","suffix":""},{"id":477260234,"identity":"bd3ead0a-5bbe-42fe-a63b-452617299627","order_by":1,"name":"Mykolas Kavaliauskas","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of the West of 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Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Autonomy, Fatigue, Resistance Training, Strength, Team Sport","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6369582/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6369582/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003ePurpose\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe investigated the effects of traditional (TRA) and two autoregulation resistance priming methods\u0026mdash;Objective Autoregulation Rest-Redistribution Training (O-ARRT) and Subjective Autoregulation Rest-Redistribution Training (S-ARRT)\u0026mdash;on neuromuscular performance and recovery in highly trained rugby players during competitive microcycles.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTwelve athletes completed a randomized, crossover trial consisting of three sessions involving the barbell back squat exercise, matched for volume (24 repetitions), load (80% of 1RM), and total rest time (540 seconds), but differing in set structure. We assessed neuromuscular performance monitoring barbell velocity and mechanical outputs during a countermovement jump, as well as recovery via rating of fatigue, delayed onset of muscle soreness, and perceived recovery status responses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe O-ARRT method resulted in significantly higher mean session barbell velocity compared to both TRA (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001, b\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.032 [95% CI: 0.015, 0.049]) and S-ARRT (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001, b\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.031 [95% CI: 0.017, 0.045]). Additionally, O-ARRT induced a delayed neuromuscular potentiation on braking impulse (P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.039, b\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12.2 [95% CI: 0.7, 23.7]) and resulted in greater recovery of perceived fatigue on match day compared to TRA (P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.033, b = -0.98 [95% CI: -1.88, -0.08]) compared to TRA. Despite using an autoregulatory approach, S-ARRT induced outcomes similar to TRA, likely due to sets terminating close to failure. Perceived recovery and delayed onset of muscle soreness were similar across the three RT methods on match day.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusions\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese findings suggest that O-ARRT may be an effective strategy for optimizing performance and facilitating recovery during competitive microcycles.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"The effects of traditional and autoregulation priming methods on neuromuscular performance and recovery outcomes in rugby players: a randomized cross-over trial","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-30 17:50:08","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6369582/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-09-21T11:33:17+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-07-07T13:45:16+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"192393505718256959968560304998405174404","date":"2025-07-05T02:21:34+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"284220990742745757176956130783174880997","date":"2025-06-25T08:33:56+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-06-25T06:17:50+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-04-04T09:04:39+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-04-04T09:01:11+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Sport Sciences for Health","date":"2025-04-03T12:57:28+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"sport-sciences-for-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"ssfh","sideBox":"Learn more about [Sport Sciences for Health](http://link.springer.com/journal/11332)","snPcode":"11332","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11332/3","title":"Sport Sciences for Health","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"e008e5e3-3e53-4571-9338-5d8e6e72c7fa","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 30th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-10-27T16:33:30+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6369582","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-025-01572-x","journal":{"identity":"sport-sciences-for-health","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Sport Sciences for Health"},"publishedOn":"2025-10-22 16:16:45","publishedOnDateReadable":"October 22nd, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-30 17:50:08","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s11332-025-01572-x","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-025-01572-x","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6369582","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6369582","identity":"rs-6369582","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}