Eccentric Training Interventions and Team Sport Athletes

Abstract

Eccentric resistance training has been shown to improve performance outcomes in a range of populations, making it a popular choice for practitioners. Evidence suggests that neuromuscular adaptations resulting from eccentric overload (EO) and accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) methods could benefit athletic populations competing in team sports. The purpose of this review was to determine the effects of eccentric resistance training on performance qualities in trained male team sport athletes. A systematic review was conducted using electronic databases PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science in May 2019. The literature search resulted in 1402 initial articles, with 14 included in the final analysis. Variables related to strength, speed, power and change of direction ability were extracted and effect sizes were calculated with a correction for small sample size. Trivial, moderate and large effect sizes were reported for strength (−0.17 to 1.67), speed (−0.08 to 1.06), power (0.27 to 1.63) and change of direction (0.48 to 1.46) outcomes. Eccentric resistance training appears to be an effective stimulus for developing neuromuscular qualities in trained male team sport athletes. However, the range of effect sizes, testing protocols and training interventions suggest that more research is needed to better implement this type of training in athletic populations.

Long-Term Effect of Combination of Creatine Monohydrate Plus β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate (HMB) on Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Anabolic/Catabolic Hormones in Elite Male Endurance Athletes

“…These differences could be influenced by blood sampling timing when the objective is to determine the long-term effect of CrM plus HMB supplementation and insufficient time is provided to avoid EIMD acute increases post-exercise [45]. Likewise, these differences might be due to the fact that this type of sport entails short (approximately 20 min) cyclic activity, in contrast to endurance and team sports (high eccentric activity with heavy weights) [44][45][46][47]65] that produce a higher rate of muscle damage [31,66].…”

Greater Power but Not Strength Gains Using Flywheel Versus Equivolumed Traditional Strength Training in Junior Basketball Players

“…There is a growing body of research asserting that strength training programs which adequately load the lengthening phase of movement, called eccentric training, might induce superior neuromuscular adaptations (faster cortical activity, inversed motoneuron activity pattern, improved muscle-tendon unit morphology and structure) compared with traditional strength training. In addition, there is increasing evidence in recent scientific literature implying that eccentric strength training is a potent stimulus for boosting physical performance [8,9], with flywheel iso-inertial resistance training especially highlighted recently for its efficiency in both performance and clinical settings [10] as well as specificity [11].…”

Eccentric Force-Velocity Characteristics during a Novel Squat Protocol in Trained Rugby Union Athletes—Pilot Study

“…Eccentric-based training (ECC) has been shown to be an effective strategy for improving physical performance in athletic populations when compared to traditional or concentric-only programs [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. The relationship between eccentric phase characteristics and dynamic performance has been previously explored [ 4 , 5 ] and may explain favourable changes in strength, jumping, and sprinting ability following eccentric-based training interventions.…”