If I asked you to tell me the differences between CrossFit, bodybuilding, and Powerlifting, what would you say?
Perhaps you believe CrossFit and bodybuilding are more dangerous and pose huge injury risks. The good news is that all strength sports, including CrossFit and Powerlifting, are low. Team sports and common individual sports, such as running and tennis, lead to more injuries.
What about the types of exercises? They all involve resistance exercises, but Powerlifting is restricted to three lifts for competition, whereas CrossFit includes weightlifting, calisthenics, and gymnastics movements. For training, however, all three use a variety of lifts to maximize improvements in strength and performance.
One of the biggest differences, and the focus of this article, is the rest break. CrossFit workouts often involve the minimum rest possible, trying to complete as many reps as possible in an allotted time or a set number of reps as quickly as possible.
Conversely, powerlifters and bodybuilders focus on volume and take as long as they need to complete the program. Since powerlifters tend to lift heavier weights, pushing themselves closer to their max effort with lower rep ranges, they often rest 2–8 minutes between sets. Bodybuilders have different philosophies, but most use 30-second to 3-minute rest breaks
How long you rest between sets of exercises determines how your body will perform and adapt to exercise.
The role of the rest break
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