Effects of long-term training specificity on maximal strength and power of the upper and lower extremities in athletes from different sports

Abstract

Maximal concentric one repetition maximum half-squat (1RM(HS)), bench-press (1RM(BP)), power-load curves during concentric actions with loads ranging from 30% to 100% of 1RM(HS) and 1RM(BP)were examined in 70 male subjects divided into five groups: weightlifters (WL, n=11), handball players (HP, n=19), amateur road cyclists (RC, n=18), middle-distance runners (MDR, n=10) and age-matched control subjects (C, n=12). The 1RM(HS)values in WL, HP and RC were 50%, 29% and 28% greater, respectively, ( P<0.001-0.01) than those recorded for MDR and C. The half-squat average power outputs at all loads examined (from 30% to 100%) in WL and HP ( P<0.001 at 45% and 60% with HP) were higher ( P<0.05-0.001) than those in MDR, RC and C. Average power output at the load of 30% of 1RM(HS) in RC was higher ( P<0.05) than that recorded in MDR and C. Maximal power output was produced at the load of 60% for HP, MDR and C, and at the load of 45% for WL and RC. The 1RM(BP) in WL was larger ( P<0.05) than those recorded in HP, RC, MDR and C. In the bench press, average muscle power outputs in WL and HP were higher ( P<0.05-0.001) than those in MDR, RC and C, and were maximized at a load of 30% of 1RM for WL and HP, and at 45% for RC, MDR and C. In addition, the velocities that elicited the maximal power in the lower extremities were lower ( approximately 0.75 m.s(-1)) than those occurring in the upper extremities ( approximately 1 m.s(-1)). The data suggest that the magnitude of the sport-related differences in strength and/or muscle power output may be explained in part by differences in muscle cross-sectional area, fibre type distribution and in the muscle mechanics of the upper and lower limbs as well as by training background.

Evaluation of an electronic video game for improvement of balance

“…Weakest improvements (not achieving statistical significance) were obtained in the OL test. These results suggest the specificity of training which has also been observed by others (Di Fabio and Anderson 1993;Coyle et al 1981;Izquierdo et al 2002). Future studies should investigate the specificity of training to the head movements used in the training.…”

Power-load curves in an elite weightlifter. A case study. [Curvas de carga-potencia en un halterófilo de élite. Estudio de caso].

“…The type of training and fibers composition, as well as the level of experience and proficiency of the participant, could shift the percentage of 1RM at which the highest power is produced either upwards or downwards (Izquierdo et al 2002;Kawamori and Haff, 2004;Naclerio, 2006). In the present case, such factors include the probable predominance of fast twitch fibers, the background of the weightlifter studied in respect of technique, and the type of training usually undertaken in the sport of weightlifting, which focuses on applying high speed to the bar at high loads (Campos, Poletaev, Cuesta, Pablos, Carratala, 2006).…”

Capacidade de repetição da força: efeito das recuperações interséries

“…O mesmo não ocorre quando os intervalos são curtos ou inexistentes. Assim, a velocidade de movimento e a potência muscular caem rapidamente 3,26 , dependendo do nível de treinamento do atleta 4,34,37,[89][90][91] . Em princípio, há dois aspectos que vão condicionar o surgimento da fadiga: o nível de treinamento e as características musculares.…”