Rest is different from recovery, but it still plays a big role in how many sets you can bang out. Among the many discussions you'll hear in any weight room, are opinions centered around on how long you should rest between sets. A study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine jumps right into this argument while adding an active versus passive recovery twist.
Researchers had 12 healthy men in their mid-20s perform 6 sets of 10 reps on the leg press machine. Some used a passive recovery method (walking around), some took the active recovery approach (cycling on a stationary bike), some stretched out and others underwent electro-stimulation for 2 or 3 minutes between sets. I the end, 3 minutes restored strength a lot more effectively than the 2-minute rest period. It didn't matter how the lifters used that time. So go with the approach you're most comfortable with.
