Increased Strength, Reaction Time and Speed of LIMB Movement

Abstract

81 young male adults participated in a 6-wk. X 7 days a week myotatic and isometric strength training program. Associated with strength increments myotatic practice proved to be superior to the isometric program relative to improvement of movement time (MT) in the experimental leg and contralateral transfer to the control limb. As a result of isometric exercises reaction time (RT) was decreased and was transferred more effectively than in the myotatic group although there was a loss of speed of movement in both limbs following isometric training. Correlations between R T and MT with pretraining strength and strength increment scores showed a high degree of specificity of relationship of individual differences.In a recent study Smith (1969b) reported that, as the result of a myotatic stretch training program, there was a considerable increase in strength and also an associated contralateral transfer of strength to the control limb. A search of the literature revealed thac chere have been no studies concerning the influence of myotatic strength training upon speed of limb movement ( M T ) and RT. Also, no investigator has studied the effect of strengthening a limb with the possibility of contralateral transfer of RT and MT to the nonexercised limb. have shown that weight training has facilitated speed of movement. However, Pierson and Rasch (1962) did not observe a decrease in MT with an increze in strength. Also, Baer, Gersten, Robertson, and Dinken (1955) reported thac R T became slower'as a result of isotonic exercise, and Clarke and Henry ( 1961) demonstrated that chere were no significant changes in R T following a strength program. Strength Training ProgramEighty-one male inmates, w i t h a mean age of 22 yr., were randomly divided into three groups, myotatic, isometric, and control. S lay in a supine position with his legs extending over the edge of the testing table. Static strength ( 3 trials) was measured on each leg at four angles (90°, 115", 135', and 160') with a cable tensiometer.

History of Strength Training Research in Man: An Inventory and Quantitative Overview of Studies Published in English Between 1894 and 1979

“…Three hundred thirty-nine strength training studies were published between 1894 and 1979 (1–4,7–19,22–45) (47–50,53–70,72–78) (80,82–92,94–107,110,111) (113–130,132–138,140–146) (149,150,152–157,159–170) (173–179,182,183,186–206,208) (210–233,235,237–244) (246–254,259–267) (271–280,282–288,295) (298–319,321–328) (330–359) (367–379,382) (383,385–394,396–399) (Figure 1). Three articles (0.9%) were published before 1940, 14 (4.1%) were published in the 1940s, 52 (15.3%) in the 1950s, 142 (41.9%) in the 1960s, and 128 (37.8%) in the 1970s.…”