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Topics - RJ Nelsen

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1
Pics, Videos, & Links / Handstand Pushups
« on: July 19, 2011, 05:35:31 pm »
I'm chasing a 300 lb clean and strict press (I think I'm good for 255-260 now) and one of the better assistance lifts I've found are paused handstand pushups on parallettes. I'm still not great at them, but having said that, I do weigh 225 lbs. Thought I'd post up a video of today's top set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CLWBhbe514

For those of you who know me from the past, I'm not all legs anymore. ;D

2
Introduce Yourself / I'm Back...
« on: July 18, 2011, 08:01:51 pm »
My name is RJ Nelsen and a few people on here may know me. For those who don't, I'm a former (failed) sprinter turned gym rat with a big interest in sports science. I'm short-legged, big-boned, and was not cut out for running, but still, I tried. Having spent years only working my lower body in hopes of getting faster, I've since abandoned the track and train upper body almost exclusively. I'm a bit out of shape (athletically), but I intend to fix that soon. I've had enough of being a gym-bro and want to get back into sports. I'm not exactly a slouch now, but I could use some work. Here are some stats...

6'1.5"
224 lbs
No clue on my bodyfat, but I have defined abs, so it's low enough

My best lifts/jumps/sprints are...

Power Snatch 220 lbs x 3 reps
Full OLY Squat 405 lbs x 1 rep
Deadlift 475 lbs x 1 rep
Clean and Military Press, 250 lbs x 1 rep
Chin Up 409 lbs x 1 rep (182 lbs + 227 lbs of BW)

100M in 11.66 FAT
400M in 54.5x FAT
LJ 20'1"

Broad Jump 10'2"
CMJ 32"

Right now I'm strong, but out of shape. I'm going to fix that in the coming months while continuing to focus on my main goal which is cleaning and military pressing 300 lbs. I may start up a log soon.

For those of you who are interested in my earlier work, here's a copy of my most recent book. It was, and still might be, for sale on Kelly Baggett's site, but I've been giving it away free for a while. Grab yourself a free copy and enjoy. It's worth it.

http://pdfcast.org/pdf/engineering-an-athlete

3
Article & Video Discussion / Project Phoenix
« on: June 10, 2009, 08:52:14 pm »
Well, I wrote up the first bit of Project Phoenix.

http://www.pure-dedication.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=36:lab-rj&Itemid=56&layout=default

Questions, comments, and insults are welcome. ;D

4
Strength, Power, Reactivity, & Speed Discussion / Important Lessons
« on: June 08, 2009, 05:02:04 pm »
Most of us have been at this whole "training" thing for a while now, so we've all picked up a bit of information along the way. In an effort to help prevent others from making the same mistakes we did, let's discuss the biggest, most important lessons we've learned.

Some of mine were...

Maintain strength. After you've worked hard to earn it, make sure you don't lose it all in the next block. Even if it's just a few sets of strength work a week, make sure you do it.

Pay attention to the front side of the body. Don't neglect the abs and the hip flexors in favor of the posterior chain. You need both to function optimally.

Get in shape. Even if your even only lasts 11 seconds, doing regular conditioning work will not only prolong your life, but make recover between sets and between workouts much easier. Conditioning doesn't have to be hard. It can be something as simple as walking uphill or climbing stairs.

5
Peer Reviewed Studies Discussion / Muscle Architecture
« on: June 08, 2009, 01:23:51 pm »
All conclusions of studies will be listed in this original post (TABLE OF SUMMARIES) for quick reference.


Post anything related to muscle architecture including what is means, why it's important, the relationship between certain facets of it and performance, and how to affect it via training.


1. Fascicle length of leg muscles is greater in sprinters than distance runners.

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Greater fascicle length and lesser pennation angle observed in leg muscles of SPR, compared with DR, would appear to favor shortening velocity as required for greater running speed.



2. Sprint performance is related to muscle fascicle length in male 100-m sprinters.

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Muscle thickness was similar between groups for vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis, but S10 had a significantly greater gastrocnemius lateralis muscle thickness. S10 also had a greater muscle thickness in the upper portion of the thigh, which, given similar limb lengths, demonstrates an altered "muscle shape." Pennation angle was always less in S10 than in S11. In all muscles, S10 had significantly greater fascicle length than did S11, which significantly correlated with 100-m best performance (r values from -0.40 to -0.57). It is concluded that longer fascicle length is associated with greater sprinting performance.



3. Effects of physical training and detraining, immobilisation, growth and aging on human fascicle geometry.

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ypically, heavy resistance training in young adults has been shown to cause significant increases in fascicle angle of vastus lateralis and triceps brachii as measured by ultrasonography, while high-speed/plyometrics training in the absence of weight training has been associated with increases in fascicle length and a reduction in angles of vastus lateralis fascicles. These changes indicate that differences in geometry between various athletic populations might be at least partly attributable to their differing training regimes.



4. Effects of dynamic resistance training on fascicle length and isometric strength.

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At the end of the study, significant increases in vastus lateralis muscle thickness (+6.9%, P < 0.001), fascicle length (+10.3%, P < 0.05), one-repetition maximum (+8.2%, P < 0.05), rate of force development (+23.8%, P < 0.05) and average force produced in the first 500 ms (+11.7%, P < 0.05) were seen only in the training group. Adaptations to the muscle architecture in the training group limited the loss of fibre force, and improved the capacity for developing higher velocities of contraction. The architectural changes in the training group were similar to those seen in studies where high-speed training was performed. In conclusion, dynamic resistance training with light loads leads to increases in muscle thickness and fascicle length, which might be related to a more efficient transmission of fibre force to the tendon.



5. Adaptation to chronic eccentric exercise in humans, the influence of contraction velocity.

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After 10 weeks, the FAST group demonstrated significant [mean (SEM)] increases in eccentric [29.6 (6.4)%] and concentric torque [27.4 (7.3)%] at 3.14 rad x s(-1), isometric torque [21.3 (4.3)%] and eccentric torque [25.2 (7.2)%] at 0.52 rad x s(-1). The percentage of type I fibres in the FAST group decreased from [53.8 (6.6)% to 39.1 (4.4)%] while type IIb fibre percentage increased from [5.8 (1.9)% to 12.9 (3.3)%; P < 0.05]. In contrast, the SLOW group did not experience significant changes in muscle fibre type or muscle torque.



6. Changes in muscle strength, muscle fibre size and myofibrillar gene expression after immobilization and retraining in humans.

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Immobilization reduced type I, IIa and IIx muscle fibre areas by 13, 10 and 10 %, respectively and after 2 weeks of spontaneous recovery from immobilization these fibres were 5 % smaller than at baseline. Hypertrophy of type I, IIa and IIx fibres relative to baseline was 10, 16 and 16 % after eccentric and 11, 9 and 10 % after mixed training (all P < 0.05), exceeding the 4, 5 and 5 % gains after concentric training. Type IIa and IIx fibre enlargements were greatest after eccentric training.



7. Electromyostimulation training effects on neural drive and muscle architecture.

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At WK8, knee extensor MVC significantly increased by 27% (P < 0.001) and was accompanied by an increase in muscle activation (+6%, P < 0.01), quadriceps muscle ACSA (+6%, P < 0.001), and VL pennation angle (+14%, P < 0.001). A significant increase in normalized EMG activity of both VL and vastus medialis (VM) muscles (+69 and +39%, respectively, P < 0.001) but not of rectus femoris (RF) muscle was also found at WK8. The ACSA of the VL, VM, and vastus intermedius muscles significantly increased at WK8 (5-8%, P < 0.001) but not at WK4, whereas no changes occurred in the RF muscle.



8. Differential Adaptations to Eccentric versus Conventional Resistance Training in Older Humans.

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Training increased fascicle length in both groups, but the increase was significantly greater in the ECC (20% increase) than the CONV (8% increase) group. Conversely, pennation angle significantly increased in the CONV (35%), but not in the ECC (5%) group. Muscle thickness increased to a similar extent in both groups (~12%). In the ECC group, eccentric knee extensor torque increased by 9-17% across velocities, but concentric torque was unchanged. Conversely, in the CONV group, concentric torque increased by 22-37% across velocities, but eccentric torque was unchanged. Instead, isometric torque increased similarly in both groups (~8%). Thus, the two training regimens resulted in differential adaptations in muscle architecture and strength.



9. Effects of eccentric strength training on biceps femoris muscle architecture and knee joint range of movement.

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The experimental group completed an eccentric strengthening programme for 8 weeks. Outcome measures included hamstring muscle strength (one repetition maximum), the passive knee extension test (PKE) (knee joint angle at which the onset of passive tension occurs), fascicle length (FL) and pennation angle (PA). One repetition maximum increased by 34% (P < 0.01), the PKE test revealed a 5% increase in joint range of motion (P = 0.01), FL increased by 34% (P = 0.01) and PA did not change (P = 0.38).



10. Differential serial sarcomere number adaptations in knee extensor muscles of rats is contraction type dependent.

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Serial sarcomere numbers change differently for the uphill and downhill exercise groups, and for the VL and VI muscles. Short muscle lengths for uphill concentric-biased contractions result in a loss of serial sarcomeres, and long muscle lengths for downhill eccentric-biased contractions result in a gain of serial sarcomeres.



11. Changes in human skeletal muscle induced by long-term eccentric exercise.

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Specimens from the controls showed a well-preserved, regular myofibrillar band pattern while changes in the myofibrillar architecture were constantly found in specimens taken after the training program. These changes consisted of Z-band alterations, Z-bands being out of register, extra sarcomeres, Z-band extensions and bisected Z-bands. Between the separated Z-band halves, thin and thick myofilaments as well as abundant glycogen particles and/or ribosomes, were observed. Type-2 (fast-twitch) fibres were predominantly affected. Contrary to the controls the trained individuals constantly showed a greater variation in sarcomere lengths in Type-2 fibres than in Type-1 fibres.



12. Adaptive responses to muscle lengthening and shortening in humans.

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Eccentric training increased eccentric strength 3.5 times more (pre/post 46%, P < 0.05) than concentric training increased concentric strength (pre/post 13%). Eccentric training increased concentric strength and concentric training increased eccentric strength by about the same magnitude (5 and 10%, respectively, P > 0.05). Eccentric training increased EMG activity seven times more during eccentric testing (pre/post 86%, P < 0.05) than concentric training increased EMG activity during concentric testing (pre/post 12%). Eccentric training increased the EMG activity measured during concentric tests and concentric training increased the EMG activity measured during eccentric tests by about the same magnitude (8 and 11%, respectively, P > 0.05). Type I muscle fiber percentages did not change significantly, but type IIa fibers increased and type IIb fibers decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in both training groups. Type I fiber areas did not change significantly (P > 0.05), but type II fiber area increased approximately 10 times more (P < 0.05) in the eccentric than in the concentric group. It is concluded that adaptations to training with maximal eccentric contractions are specific to eccentric muscle actions that are associated with greater neural adaptation and muscle hypertrophy than concentric exercise.



13. Myosin heavy chain IIX overshoot in human skeletal muscle

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Furthermore, detraining following heavy-load resistance training seems to evoke an overshoot in the amount of MHC IIX to values markedly higher than those observed prior to resistance training.


14. Changes in the human muscle force-velocity relationship in response to resistance training and subsequent detraining

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In conclusion, detraining subsequent to resistance training increases maximal unloaded movement speed and power in previously untrained subjects. A phenotypic shift toward faster muscle MHC isoforms (I -> IIA -> IIX) and faster electrically evoked muscle contractile properties in response to detraining may explain the present results.


15. Changes in muscle size and MHC composition in response to resistance exercise with heavy and light loading intensity

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Finally, MHC IIX protein expression was decreased with HL (HEAVY LOAD 70%) but not LL (LIGHT LOAD 15%), despite identical total workload in HL and LL. Our main finding was that LL resistance training was sufficient to induce a small but significant muscle hypertrophy in healthy young men. However, LL resistance training was inferior to HL training in evoking adaptive changes in muscle size and contractile strength and was insufficient to induce changes in MHC composition.


16. Power Output and Muscle Myosin Heavy Chain Composition in Young and Elderly Men.

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Older subjects produced significantly lower power outputs and Vopt under all conditions (P < 0.01) and had lower proportions of fast MHC isoforms (P< 0.05). Peak power output during cycling was significantly related to lower-limb lean volume (r = 0.92, P < 0.05), whereas Vopt during sprint cycling was closely related to vastus lateralis MHC-II composition (r = 0.80, P < 0.05).


17. Exercise Pattern Influences Skeletal Muscle Hybrid Fibers of Runners and Nonrunners

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Training volume influences both IIa/IIx and I/IIa hybrid fiber proportions in runners, but only the former in nonrunners. Hybrid IIa/IIx fiber proportions were modulated by racing distance. Distinctly different distributions of MHC isoforms within the hybrid fibers were seen in runners favoring longer distances versus those favoring shorter distances.


18. Aging, muscle fiber type, and contractile function in sprint-trained athletes

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The sprint-trained athletes experienced the typical aging-related reduction in the size of fast fibers, a shift toward a slower MHC isoform profile, and a lower Vo of type I MHC fibers, which played a role in the decline in explosive force production. However, the muscle characteristics were preserved at a high level in the oldest runners, underlining the favorable impact of sprint exercise on aging muscle.



19. Skeletal muscle adaptation: training twice every second day vs. training once daily

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read the whole study on this one: In conclusion, the present study suggests that training twice every second day may be superior to daily training.


20. Effects of combined strength and sprint training on regulation of muscle contraction at the whole-muscle and single-fibre levels in elite master sprinters

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Adding strength training stimulus to the training programme improved maximal, explosive and sport-specific force production in elite master sprinters. These improvements were primarily related to hypertrophic muscular adaptations.


21. Effects of power training on muscle structure and neuromuscular performance.

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No statistically significant improvements in MVC of the knee extensor (KE) and plantarflexor muscles were observed during the training period. However, the maximal rate of force development (RFD) of KE increased from 18 836+/-4282 to 25 443+/-8897 N (P<0.05) during the first 10 weeks of training. In addition, vertical jump height (vertical rise of the center of body mass) in the drop jump test increased significantly (P<0.01). Simultaneously, explosive force production of KE muscles measured as knee moment and power increased significantly; however, there was no significant change (P>0.05) in muscle activity (electromyography) of KE.



22. Plasticity of human skeletal muscle: gene expression to in vivo function

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Training studies suggest that there is a subtle interplay between the MHC-IIa and -IIx isoforms, with the latter being downregulated by activity and upregulated by inactivity. However, switching between the two main isoforms appears to require significant challenges to a muscle. Upregulation of fast gene programs is caused by prolonged disuse, whilst upregulation of slow gene programs appears to require significant and prolonged activity.


23. Changes in muscle force-length properties affect the early rise of force in vivo

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Training-induced increases in muscle fascicle length may lead to a reduced or complete lack of adaptive gains in contractile RFD, especially in the early contraction phase.


24. ADAPTIVE CHANGES OF MYOSIN ISOFORMS IN RESPONSE TO LONG-TERM STRENGTH AND POWER TRAINING IN MIDDLE-AGED MEN

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In conclusion, the long-term strength and power training 3 times a week seemed to have only slight effects on fast MHC isoforms in the vastus lateralis muscle of untrained middle-aged men; the proportion of MHC IIa tended to increase and that of MHC IIx tended to decrease. No changes in MLC isoform profile could be shown



25. Characteristics of myosin profile in human vastus lateralis muscle in relation to training background

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Unexpectedly, endurance athletes (group B) such as long-distance runners, cyclists and cross country skiers, did not differ from the athletes representing short term, high power output sports (group C) such as ice hockey, karate, ski-jumping, volleyball, soccer and modern dance. Furthermore, the relative amount of the fastest MyHCIIX isoform in vastus lateralis muscle was significantly lower in the athletes from group C than in students (group A). We conclude that the myosin profile in the athletes belonging to group C was unfavourable for their sport disciplines. This could be the reason why those athletes did not reach international level despite of several years of training



26. Muscular Performance after Concentric and Eccentric Exercise in Trained Men.

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The present data suggest that for resistance-trained men, increases in concentric strength and velocity performance after eccentric training are largely mediated by changes in fiber and muscle cross-sectional area. However, hypertrophy alone could not explain the increase in eccentric strength. Because the increases in strength and velocity performance after concentric training could not be ascribed to muscular adaptations alone, we suggest that they may be attributable to additional neural factors.



6
Strength, Power, Reactivity, & Speed Discussion / Favorite Exercises
« on: June 02, 2009, 06:25:06 pm »
Well, the site is only a few hours old, but already we've got quite the membership. To ease everyone into posting, I thought I'd start us out with something fairly simple.

Now, I know it would be dumb to limit yourself, but if you could only use 5 exercises to train an athlete (regardless of sport, but assume it's anaerobic and land-based), what would they be?

Mine would be (in no specific order)
-ISO Bulgarian Split Squats
-ISO and OI Weighted Ab Work
-Short Sprints (<60M @ full speed)
-Depth Jumps
-Overhead Weight/DB/KB/Med Ball Throws



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