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Messages - adarqui

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22487
All conclusions of studies will be listed in this original post (TABLE OF SUMMARIES) for quick reference.


Post anything related to tapering, supercompensation, post-active potentiation or stimulatory methods of training. Do not post anything about nutritional "stimulants".


1. Acute Effects of Plyometric Exercise on Maximum Squat Performance in Male Athletes

Quote
These data suggest that DJ performed before 1RM testing
may enhance squat performance in trained male athletes.




2. Postactivation Potentiation Response in Athletic and Recreationally Trained Individuals

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The response to a heavy resistance exercise stimulus designed to elicit postactivation potentiation appears to depend on training status. Recreationally trained individuals may exhibit fatigue in the 5 minutes following an acute heavy resistance exercise stimulus. In athletically trained individuals, however, this stimulus enhances power performance for 5 to 18.5 minutes.




3. The Acute Effects of Heavy Loads on Jump Squat Performance: An Evaluation of the Complex and Contrast Methods of Power Development

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It was concluded that contrast training is advantageous for increasing power output but only for athletes with relatively high strength levels.



4. Investigation of Vertical Jump Performance After Completing Heavy Squat Exercises

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Therefore, we examined the individual responses to the exercises and determined that 5 of the subjects did increase their vertical jumps after both squat exercises. It may be that the influence of prejump exercise on jump performance may be individualized. Nevertheless, the use of a strength ratio does not appear to predict who will benefit from posttetanic potentiation in this type of exercise situation.



5. Influence of recovery time on post-activation potentiation in professional rugby players

Quote
The findings suggest that muscle performance during a countermovement jump can be markedly enhanced following bouts of heavy resistance training provided that adequate recovery (?8 min) is allowed between the heavy resistance training and the explosive activity.



6. The Effects of Postactivation Potentiation on Muscular Strength and Power

Quote
However, an increase in force parameter during LCMJ was appeared in 80%1RM preload but not in 40%1RM. Moreover, an increase in power parameter with 80%1RM preload was remained longer than that of 40% 1RM. These results suggest that the effects of postactivation potentiation on muscular strength and power and its time course of recovery may be different from the intensity of preload.



7. The Acute Effects of a Resistance Training Warmup on Sprint Performance

Quote
The results showed a mean improvement of 0.098s (p<0.0001) when the second sprint was preceded by the back squats. This amounted to a 3.3% improvement on the precondition time. During the control condition, no improvement was observed between the first and second sprint. The improved sprint times observed during the E condition probably were due to a temporary increase in the efficiency of neuromuscular activation following the performance of heavy-load back squats.



8. The Acute Effects of Heavy-Load Squats and Loaded Countermovement Jumps on Sprint Performance

Quote
The data from this study suggest that an acute bout of low-volume heavy lifting with the lower body may improve 40-m sprint times, but that loaded countermovement jumps appear to have no significant effect.



9. Acute neuromuscular and hormonal responses during contrast loading: Effect of 11 weeks of contrast training

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Training-induced improvements in SJ height, 80% 1 RM squat load, and maximum isometric LE force were observed (12%, 10%, and 7.7%, P<0.05). In conclusion, potentiated SJ performance occurred during a typical contrast loading protocol before the training period. However, potentiated SJ performance may alter through training, and therefore, the responsiveness of the individual should be periodically monitored and training protocols updated when necessary.



10. Acute Effects of Heavy- and Light-LoadSquat Exercise on the Kinetic Measures of Vertical Jumping

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Reasons for the lack of performance enhancement can be attributed to postactivation potentiation stimulated by the SIS being insufficient in magnitude or dissipating before post-testing. This may have been due to a submaximal workload of 50% during the SIS, insufficient movement pattern specificity between the squat exercise and a CMJ, or rest intervals of excess duration.




11. THE ACUTE EFFECTS OF A SINGLE SET OF CONTRAST PRELOADING ON A LOADED COUNTERMOVEMENT JUMP TRAINING SESSION

Quote
The aim of this research was to assess the effect of a single set of contrast preloading on peak vertical displacement (PD) during a loaded countermovement jump (LCMJ) training session. These results suggest that a single set of preloading exercises enhances performance during a lower-body explosive power training session; however, the effects of a single preloading set may not peak until midway through the training session.


12. Effects of Tapering on Performance: A Meta-Analysis.

Quote
Results: The optimal strategy to optimize performance is a tapering intervention of 2-wk duration (overall effect = 0.59 +/- 0.33, P < 0.001), where the training volume is exponentially decreased by 41-60% (overall effect = 0.72 +/- 0.36, P < 0.001), without any modification of either training intensity (overall effect = 0.33 +/- 0.14, P < 0.001) or frequency (overall effect = 0.35 +/- 0.17, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: A 2-wk taper during which training volume is exponentially reduced by 41-60% seems to be the most efficient strategy to maximize performance gains. This meta-analysis provides a framework that can be useful for athletes, coaches, and sport scientists to optimize their tapering strategy.


13. DETRAINING AND TAPERING EFFECTS ON HORMONAL RESPONSES AND STRENGTH PERFORMANCE

Quote
These data indicated that DTR may induce larger declines in muscle power output than in maximal strength, whereas TAP may result in further strength enhancement (but not muscle power), mediated, in part, by training-related differences in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations.



14. A Theoretical Study of Taper Characteristics to Optimize Performance.

Quote
Results: The taper allowed performance gains if training was higher than a minimal level. The best performance without OT preceding the taper was reached with a load reduction of 30.8 +/- 11.8% and a duration of 19.3 +/- 2.3 d. The best performance with OT preceding the taper was significantly higher than without OT (P < 0.02) and was obtained with a significantly greater load reduction and duration, 39.3 +/- 9.9% and 28.0 +/- 5.1 d respectively. The best performance with a progressive load reduction was significantly higher than with a step reduction only with OT before the taper (102.2 +/- 1.7 vs 101.8 +/- 1.5% of performance with ODT, P < 0.005)

Conclusion: Greater training volume and/or intensity before the taper would allow higher performance gains, but would demand a greater reduction of the training load over a longer period. The results also pointed out the importance of training adaptations during the taper, in addition to fatigue dissipation.




15. The effects of a 10-day taper on repeated-sprint performance in females

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22490
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrP16PSoA0s" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrP16PSoA0s</a>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrP16PSoA0s

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Peer Reviewed Studies Discussion / Re: MISC Animal Studies
« on: June 04, 2009, 11:14:38 pm »

22493
Peer Reviewed Studies Discussion / MISC Animal Studies
« on: June 04, 2009, 11:11:23 pm »
All conclusions of studies will be listed in this original post (TABLE OF SUMMARIES) for quick reference.


Post anything relevant to studies done on animals / rodents etc. I'm not a big fan of animal testing, thought it does provide valuable information. There are some crazy studies that exist out there.



1. Intracranial self-stimulation motivates weight-lifting exercise in rats

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At the end of the training period, the rats were lifting over 550% of the starting weight. Gastrocnemius size and mean fiber diameter were increased in the weight-lifting animals. This model combines exercise with positive incentive and has the advantages of being relatively easy to implement and not producing any apparent physical or mental trauma in the animal.



2. Mirror neurons and the simulation theory of mind-reading

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A new class of visuomotor neuron has been recently discovered in the monkey's premotor cortex: mirror neurons. These neurons respond both when a particular action is performed by the recorded monkey and when the same action, performed by another individual, is observed.



3. Measurements of muscle stiffness and the mechanism of elastic storage of energy in hopping kangaroos.

Quote
3. When the muscle was developing close to its maximum isometric tension, up to eight times as much movement occurred in the tendon as in the muscle fibres. This is made possible by the wallaby having a long and compliant tendon.



4. Beneficial Effects of Exercise on Growth of Rats During Intermittent Fasting

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When the fasted-EOD rats were also exercised, they gained 29% more weight, consumed 11% more feed and had carcasses that contained 29% more lean mass and 18% less fat than the fasted-EOD rats. The data suggest that exercise may be beneficial where feed restriction is episodic, allowing some capacity for catch-up growth.



5. Adaptation of Equine Locomotor Muscle Fiber Types to Endurance and Intensive High Speed Training

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Endurance training results in increased mitochondrial density, capillary supply, changes in key metabolic enzymes, and increased maximal oxygen uptake and promotes a transition from type II to type I muscle fiber. In horses, prolonged aerobic exercise training has been shown to induce a further decline in the percentage of type IIx MyHC isoform expression and an increase of type I and IIa MyHC isoform expression. Short-duration, high-intensity exercise training stimulates type IIA and hybrid (IIA/IIX) fibers. Therefore, intensive high-speed trotting facilitates muscle fiber hypertrophy and increases the oxidative capacity of type IIX fibers.


6. 2003: Functional trade-offs in the limb muscles of dogs selected for running vs. fighting

Quote
The physical demands of rapid and economical running differ from those of physical fighting such that functional trade-offs may prevent simultaneous evolution of optimal performance in both behaviours. Here we test three hypotheses of functional trade-off by measuring determinants of limb musculoskeletal function in two breeds of domestic dogs that have undergone intense artificial selection for running (Greyhound) or fighting performance (Pit Bull). We found that Greyhounds differ from Pit Bulls in having relatively less muscle mass distally in their limbs, weaker muscles in their forelimbs than their hindlimbs, and a much greater capacity for elastic storage in the in-series tendons of the extensor muscles of their ankle joints. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that specialization for rapid or economical running can limit fighting performance and vice versa. We suggest that functional trade-offs that prevent simultaneous evolution of optimal performance in both locomotor and fighting abilities are widespread taxonomically.


7.





8. Metabolic changes in skeletal muscle and blood of greyhounds during 800-m track sprint.

Quote
The aim of this study was to examine some metabolic properties and changes that occur in skeletal muscle and blood of greyhounds after an 800-m sprint. Three prime moving fast-twitch muscles were selected: biceps femoris (BF), gastrocnemius (G), and vastus lateralis (VL). The amount of glycogen utilized during the event was 42.57, 43.86, and 42.73 mumol glucosyl units/g wet wt, respectively. Expressed as a function of race time (48.3 +/- 0.7 s, n = 3), the mean rate of glycogen breakdown was 53.48 +/- 0.5 mumol.g wet wt-1.min-1 during the sprint. This is equivalent to an ATP turnover of 160 mumol.g wet wt-1.min-1, assuming 100% anaerobic conversion to lactate. This represents a conservative estimate, since greyhound muscle is heterogeneous and comprised of a large percentage of fast-twitch oxidative fibers (Armstrong et al., Am. J. Anat. 163: 87-98, 1982). The large decrease in muscle glycogen was accompanied by a 6- to 7-fold increase in muscle lactate from 3.48 +/- 0.13 to 25.42 +/- 3.54 (BF), 2.54 +/- 1.05 to 18.96 +/- 2.60 (G), and 4.57 +/- 0.44 to 30.09 +/- 1.94 mumol.g wet wt (VL), and a fall in muscle pH from 6.88 +/- 0.03 to 6.40 +/- 0.02 (BF), 6.92 +/- 0.02 to 6.56 +/- 0.02 (G), and 6.93 +/- 0.02 to 6.47 +/- 0.01 (VL). Cytosolic phosphorylation potential in BF decreased 10-fold from 11,360 +/- 680 to 1,184 +/- 347, and redox potential decreased 5-fold, indicating a marked reduction in the cytosol at this time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)





9. Skeletal muscle fibre composition in the dog and its relationship to athletic ability.

Quote
Skeletal limb muscles of the dog could generally be differentiated into three fibre types according to myosin adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) (pH 9.4) and succinic dehydrogenase activities. However, because this was not always possible, for comparative purposes only, division into low myosin ATPase (slow twitch) type I and high myosin ATPase (fast twitch) type II fibres was used. The percentage of these fibre types in m deltoideus, m triceps brachii caput longum, m vastus lateralis, m gluteus medius, m biceps femoris and m semitendinosus was examined in the greyhound, crossbred and foxhound. In all muscles the greyhound had a significantly higher percentage of fibres with high myosin ATPase activity at pH 9.4 than the other breeds, with almost 100 per cent in most muscles examined. The activities of nine enzymes and glycogen concentration were determined in m gluteus medius and m semitendinosus of the greyhound and crossbred. Significantly higher levels of creatine kinase, aldolase, alanine aminotransferase and citrate synthase and significantly lower activities of 3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase and hexokinase were found in both muscles of the greyhound. The implications of these findings are discussed.

22494
Effects of caffeine, sleep loss, and stress on cognitive performance and mood during U.S. Navy SEAL training


Rationale. When humans are acutely exposed to multiple stressors, cognitive performance is substantially degraded. Few practical strategies are available to sustain performance under such conditions.
Objective. This study examined whether moderate doses of caffeine would reduce adverse effects of sleep deprivation and exposure to severe environmental and operational stress on cognitive performance.
Methods. Volunteers were 68 U.S. Navy Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) trainees, randomly assigned to receive either 100, 200, or 300 mg caffeine or placebo in capsule form after 72 h of sleep deprivation and continuous exposure to other stressors. Cognitive tests administered included scanning visual vigilance, four-choice visual reaction time, a matching-to-sample working memory task and a repeated acquisition test of motor learning and memory. Mood state, marksmanship, and saliva caffeine were also assessed. Testing was conducted 1 and 8 h after treatment.
Results. Sleep deprivation and environmental stress adversely affected performance and mood. Caffeine, in a dose-dependent manner, mitigated many adverse effects of exposure to multiple stressors. Caffeine (200 and 300 mg) significantly improved visual vigilance, choice reaction time, repeated acquisition, self-reported fatigue and sleepiness with the greatest effects on tests of vigilance, reaction time, and alertness. Marksmanship, a task that requires fine motor coordination and steadiness, was not affected by caffeine. The greatest effects of caffeine were present 1 h post-administration, but significant effects persisted for 8 h.
Conclusions. Even in the most adverse circumstances, moderate doses of caffeine can improve cognitive function, including vigilance, learning, memory, and mood state. When cognitive performance is critical and must be maintained during exposure to severe stress, administration of caffeine may provide a significant advantage. A dose of 200 mg appears to be optimal under such conditions.






The effects of two alternative timings of a one-hour nap on early morning performance.

The effect on performance and sleepiness of two alternative timings of a one-hour nap (2100h and 0430h, respectively) were compared with a control condition (no nap). Twelve healthy male subjects divided into three groups participated in a partly balanced repeated measurements design. At all three occasions the subjects slept 4 h during the preceding night, worked during the day and were then kept awake (except for naps) in the laboratory from 1700h to 0800h the following morning. Performance was measured through a 10-min single choice visual reaction time task administered at 1900h and 0700h. Sleepiness was measured through self-ratings and sleep latency tests at 2100h and 0600h. The results showed clear positive effects of naps (especially the 0430h nap) on performance. The sleep latency measurements showed similar, but less clear tendencies, while ratings of sleepiness did not differentiate between conditions. It was concluded that a one-hour nap could counteract the late night performance decrement.


Caffeine effects on marksmanship during high-stress military training with 72 hour sleep deprivation.

PURPOSE: Navy SEALs (sea, air, land) are elite special warfare units that conduct unconventional warfare primarily in marine environments. Marksmanship accuracy and sighting time were quantified with 62 male trainees during Navy SEAL Hell Week, which involves the combined stress of sleep loss, operational combat scenarios, and cold-wet environmental conditions. Caffeine was administered to minimize deficits due to sleep deprivation. METHODS: Volunteers dry-fired a disabled rifle equipped with a laser-based marksmanship simulator system to measure shooting speed and accuracy. The target was a 2.3-cm diameter circle at a distance of 5 m, simulating a 46 cm target at a distance of 50 m. Marksmanship was assessed prior to training, and at 73 and 80 h into Hell Week. Volunteers were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: 100, 200, or 300 mg of caffeine or a placebo. Dosing occurred 72 h after training commenced. RESULTS: The combined effects of almost 73 h of total sleep deprivation and operational and environmental stress degraded all marksmanship accuracy measures (p < 0.05) as shown by the 37.5% increase in percent of targets missed, 38% increase in distance from center of mass of the target, and the 235% increase in shot group tightness. Sighting time increased by 53% or 3.1 s after 73 h of sleep deprivation (p < 0.05). Sighting time was significantly faster in sleep deprived individuals after taking 200 or 300 mg of caffeine compared with placebo or 100 mg of caffeine. No differences in accuracy measures between caffeine treatment groups were evident at any test period. CONCLUSION: During periods of sleep deprivation combined with other stressors, the use of 200 or 300 mg of caffeine enabled SEAL trainees to sight the target and pull the trigger faster without compromising shooting accuracy.

22495
Degenerative Changes in the Ankle in Former Elite High Jumpers

Schmitt, Holger MD; Lemke, Jan M. MD; Brocai, Dario R. C. Dipl Psych; Parsch, Dominik MD



Objective: The object of this study was to find what degenerative changes are present in the ankle (talotibiofibular) joints in former elite high jumpers at least 10 years after their retirement from competition, whether there are differences between takeoff and swinging leg, and whether correlations between any particular training history parameters, former injuries, and the degenerative changes can be recognized.

Design: A cross-sectional case control study with matched controls for radiological outcomes

Setting: The Orthopedic Department at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.

Participants: The subjects were 40 male high jumpers (required personal best at least 2.18m), featured in the lists of top athletes kept by the German Athletics Association (DLV) from 1972 to 1986. All radiological findings were compared with X-rays of male age, and BMI-matched controls.

Main Outcome Measurements: All underwent clinical and radiological examinations. In addition to eliciting data on the training history with the aid of a questionnaire, we assessed symptoms affecting the ankle by means of the Freiburg Ankle Score and the Kitaoka Score and scored the radiological findings according to Bargon and Scranton and MacDermott.

Results: Differences between takeoff and swinging leg were small (Freiburg takeoff leg 93/swinging leg 95, Kitaoka takeoff 89/swinging leg 93 points on a 100 points scale) in both clinical scores, but statistically significant (p < 0.005). The more jumps were performed during the active phase, the worse the radiological scores (rs = 0.4, p = 0.01). Radiological differences between takeoff and swinging leg were not found. Comparison with controls revealed no radiological differences between athletes and age- and BMI-matched men (all p-values >0.40). It was found that one takeoff and one swinging leg ankle was affected by grade 2 arthritis (Bargon). Scranton grade 3 was found in four takeoff and in three swinging legs. No further correlations with training history data were found. Athletes who reported injuries in the past tended to have poorer radiological scores, although statistically not significant. None of the athletes had an instable ankle.

Conclusions: The talotibiofibular joints in former high jumpers showed only slight signs of wear and tear with no clinically relevant side-related differences; severe arthrosis with narrowing of the joint space was rare. The risk of arthrosis connected with high-jumping seems not to be elevated.

22496
All conclusions of studies will be listed in this original post (TABLE OF SUMMARIES) for quick reference.


Every now and then people start worrying about the effect all of this intense training has on their future health. Well, studies exist, so if you find any, post them here.


1. Degenerative Changes in the Ankle in Former Elite High Jumpers

Quote
The talotibiofibular joints in former high jumpers showed only slight signs of wear and tear with no clinically relevant side-related differences; severe arthrosis with narrowing of the joint space was rare. The risk of arthrosis connected with high-jumping seems not to be elevated.

2. Association between muscular strength and mortality in men: prospective cohort study

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Muscular strength is inversely and independently associated with death from all causes and cancer in men, even after adjusting for cardiorespiratory fitness and other potential confounders.

22497
Peer Reviewed Studies Discussion / Re: MISC Resistence Training
« on: June 04, 2009, 09:55:11 pm »

22498
Peer Reviewed Studies Discussion / MISC Resistence Training
« on: June 04, 2009, 09:52:39 pm »
All conclusions of studies will be listed in this original post (TABLE OF SUMMARIES) for quick reference.


We could always sort these out later. Post anything related to resistance training and strength/power/etc. Examples could be effect of squatting, oly weightlifting, optimal protocols and rep ranges, speed of contraction, etc.


1. Early Phase Differential Effects of Slow and Fast Barbell Squat Training

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In the long jump, the fast group was superior in numerous variables including knee peak velocity and total-body vertical and absolute power. In the vertical jump, fast training affected the ankle and hip more (e.g., average power), and slow training mostly affected the knee (average torque). In isokinetic testing, the fast group improved strength most at the faster velocities, while the slow group strength changes were consistent across the velocities tested. Although both slow and fast training improved performance, faster training showed some advantages in quantity and magnitude of training effects.




2. Neuromuscular and hormonal responses in elite athletes to two successive strength training sessions in one day

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Summary  Acute neuromuscular and endocrine adaptations to weight-lifting were investigated during two successive high intensity training sessions in the same day. Both the morning (I) (from 9.00 to 11.00 hours) and the afternoon (II) (from 15.00 hours to 17.00 hours) training sessions resulted in decreases in maximal isometric strength (p<0.01 and <0.05), shifts (worsening) in the force-time curve in the absolute scale (p<0.05 and ns.) and in decreases in the maximal integrated EMG (p<0.01 and <0.05) of the selected leg extensor muscles.




3. Neuromuscular and hormonal adaptations in athletes to strength training in two years (1988)

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Neuromuscular and hormonal adaptations to prolonged strength training were investigated in nine elite weight lifters. The average increases occurred over the 2-yr follow-up period in the maximal neural activation (integrated electromyogram, IEMG; 4.2%, P = NS), maximal isometric leg-extension force (4.9%, P = NS), averaged concentric power index (4.1%, P = NS), total weight-lifting result (2.8%, P less than 0.05), and total mean fiber area (5.9%, P = NS) of the vastus lateralis muscle, respectively. The present results suggest that prolonged intensive strength training in elite athletes may influence the pituitary and possibly hypothalamic levels, leading to increased serum levels of testosterone. This may create more optimal conditions to utilize more intensive training leading to increased strength development.



4. Upper body training and the triceps brachii muscle of elite cross country skiers.

Quote
The subjects who demonstrated the largest improvement in performance exhibited the largest muscle adaptation, which, in turn, was related to the pre-maximal oxygen uptake.




5. EXPLOSIVE EXERCISES IN SPORTS TRAINING: A
CRITICAL REVIEW


Quote
Contrary to popular belief and the practices of many athletes, the peer-
reviewed evidence does not support the view that such exercises are
more effective than traditional, slow and heavy weight training in
enhancing muscle power and athletic performance. In fact, such
exercises do not appear to be any more effective in this regard than
weight training at a relatively slow cadence, and some evidence
suggests they are less so. Also, such explosive exercises do not transfer
well (if at all) to athletic performance on the sports field, and present a
significant injury risk. Therefore, such exercises should not be
recommended in the strength and conditioning training of athletes,
except those who need to learn the specific skill of lifting heavy weights
fast, such as Olympic lifters and strongmen

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Leg power and hopping stiffness: relationship with sprint running performance.

 Abstract:
CHELLY, S. M., and C. DENIS. Leg power and hopping stiffness: relationship with sprint running performance. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 33, No. 2, 2001, pp. 326-333.

Purpose: Although sprint performance undoubtedly involves muscle power, the stiffness of the leg also determines sprint performance while running at maximal velocity. Results that include both of these characteristics have not been directly obtained in previous studies on human runners. We have therefore studied the link between leg power, leg stiffness, and sprint performance.

Methods: The acceleration and maximal running velocity developed by 11 subjects (age 16 +/- 1) during a 40-m sprint were measured by radar. Their leg muscle volumes were estimated anthropometrically. Leg power was measured by an ergometric treadmill test and by a hopping test. Each subject executed a maximal sprint acceleration on the treadmill equipped with force and speed transducers, from which forward power was calculated. A hopping jump test was executed at 2 Hz on a force platform. Leg stiffness was calculated using the flight and contact times of the hopping test.

Results: The treadmill forward leg power was correlated with both the initial acceleration (r = 0.80, P < 0.01) and the maximal running velocity (r = 0.73, P < 0.05) during track sprinting. The leg stiffness calculated from hopping was significantly correlated with the maximal velocity but not with acceleration.

Conclusion: Although muscle power is needed for acceleration and maintaining a maximal velocity in sprint performance, high leg stiffness may be needed for high running speed. The ability to produce a stiff rebound during the maximal running velocity could be explored by measuring the stiffness of a rebound during a vertical jump.






Stepping Backward Can Improve Sprint Performance Over Short Distances.

Original Research
Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 22(3):918-922, May 2008.
Frost, David M 1; Cronin, John B 1,2; Levin, Gregory 1

Abstract:
The use of a backward (false) step to initiate forward movement has been regarded as an inferior starting technique and detrimental to sprinting performance over short distances as it requires additional time to be completed, but little evidence exists to support or refute this claim. Therefore, we recruited 27 men to examine the temporal differences among three standing starts that employed either a step forward (F) or a step backward (B) to initiate movement. An audio cue was used to mark the commencement of each start and to activate the subsequent timing gates. Three trials of each starting style were performed, and movement (0 m), 2.5 m, and 5 m times were recorded. Despite similar performances to the first timing gate (0.80 and 0.81s for F and B, respectively), utilizing a step forward to initiate movement resulted in significantly slower sprint times to both 2.5 and 5 m (6.4% and 5.3%, respectively). Furthermore, when the movement times were removed and performances were compared between gates 1 and 2, and 2 and 3, all significant differences were seen before reaching a distance of only 2.5 m. The results from this investigation question the advocacy of removing the false step to improve an athlete's sprint performance over short distances. In fact, if the distance to be traveled is as little as 0.5 m in the forward direction, adopting a starting technique in which a step backward is employed may result in superior performance.






Starting from standing; why step backwards?
Journal of Biomechanics, Volume 34, Issue 2, Pages 211-215
G.Kraan

At push-off, the mass centre of gravity of the body must be positioned in front of the foot to prevent a somersault. When starting a sprint from out the standing position the use of a step backwards is necessary for maximal acceleration. The aim of the present study was to quantify the positive contribution to push off from a backward step of the leg, which seems to be counterproductive. Ten subjects were instructed to sprint start in three different ways: (a) starting from the standing position just in front of the force platform on the subject's own initiative, (b) starting from the standing position on the force platform with no step backward allowed, and (c) starting out of the starting position with one leg in front of the force platform and the push-off leg on the force platform. A step backwards was observed in 95% of the starts from the standing position. The push-off force was highest in starting type (a), which had the shortest time to build up the push-off force. The results indicate a positive contribution to the force and power from a step backwards. We advocate developing a training program with special attention to the phenomenon step backwards.





Influence of high-resistance and high-velocity training on sprint performance.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 27(8):1203-1209, August 1995.
DELECLUSE, CHRISTOPHE; COPPENOLLE, HERMAN VAN; WILLEMS, EUSTACHE; LEEMPUTTE, MARK VAN; DIELS, RUDI; GORIS, MARINA

Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of high-resistance (HR) and high-velocity (HV) training on the different phases of 100-m sprint performance. Two training groups (HR and HV) were compared with two control groups (RUN and PAS). The HR (N = 22) and HV group (N = 21) trained 3 d.wk-1 for 9 wk: two strength training sessions (HR or HV) and one running session. There was a run control group (RUN, N = 12) that also participated in the running sessions (1 d.wk-1) and a passive control group (PAS, N = 11). Running speed over a 100-m sprint was recorded every 2 m. By means of a principal component analysis on all speed variables, three phases were distinguished: initial acceleration (0-10 m), building-up running speed to a maximum (10-36 m), and maintaining maximum speed in the second part of the run (36-100 m). HV training resulted in improved initial acceleration (P < 0.05 compared with RUN, PAS, and HR), a higher maximum speed (P < 0.05 compared with PAS), and a decreased speed endurance (P < 0.05 compared to RUN and PAS). The HV group improved significantly in total 100 m time (P < 0.05 compared with the RUN and PAS groups). The HR program resulted in an improved initial acceleration phase (P < 0.05 compared with PAS).

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