NSCF Certified Personal Trainer Practice Exam 2025 - Free Personal Trainer Practice Questions and Study Guide

The appropriate rest interval between sets when performing power cleans at 85% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) is typically around 120 seconds. This rest period allows for adequate recovery between intense sets, which is crucial for maintaining performance and reducing fatigue.

At this percentage of 1RM, the exercise is demanding due to the high intensity involved, and the body requires sufficient time to restore energy levels, particularly adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate stores, which are heavily utilized during explosive movements like power cleans. Longer rest intervals help to ensure that the muscles are adequately recovered, allowing for better focus on form and reduced risk of injury.

Choosing a shorter rest period, such as 60 or 90 seconds, would likely not provide enough time for recovery, which could hinder performance in subsequent sets. Meanwhile, a rest interval of 150 seconds may extend beyond what is necessary for optimal recovery at this intensity, potentially leading to unnecessary downtime in a training session. Thus, 120 seconds strikes a balance by facilitating recovery while maintaining training efficiency.