The effects of varying inertial loadings on power variables in the flywheel romanian deadlift exercise

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of four different inertial loads (0.025, 0.050, 0.075, and 0.100 kg· m²) on concentric (CON) power, eccentric (ECC) power, and ECC overload in the flywheel Romanian deadlift (RDL). Fourteen recreationally trained males (27.9 ± 6.4 years, 90 ± 10.7 kg, 180.7 ± 5.5 cm) volunteered for the study. They had a minimum of two years of resistance training experience, although none had experience in flywheel inertia training (FIT). All participants performed the flywheel RDL on a flywheel device (kBox 3, Exxentric, AB TM, Bromma, Sweden). Each set was performed using different inertial loads, those being 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, and 0.100 kg·m². For CON, ECC power, and ECC overload, there was a significant difference (p < 0.001) between inertial loadings. In conclusion, results highlight that lower inertial load leads to higher peak CON and ECC power values, precisely 0.025 kg· m². Regarding ECC overload, medium to higher loads (0.050, 0.075, and 0.100 kg·m²) will lead to higher values.

The Effect of Flywheel Inertia on Peak Power and Its Inter-session Reliability During Two Unilateral Hamstring Exercises: Leg Curl and Hip Extension

“…In contrast, other exercises (e.g., squats, deadlifts) reported higher peak power at lower, rather than higher, moments of inertias (Sabido et al, 2018;Piqueras-Sanchiz et al, 2020;O'Brien et al, 2021). Furthermore, eccentric overload was achieved only with higher moments of inertia in certain investigations (Sabido et al, 2018;O'Brien et al, 2021), whereas other exercises achieved eccentric overload regardless of the moment of inertia used (Martinez-Aranda and Fernandez-Gonzalo, 2017;Piqueras-Sanchiz et al, 2020). Eccentric overload and peak power values may therefore depend upon execution and exercise selection.…”

“…Specifically, the measurement of concentric and eccentric peak power (and the eccentric:concentric peak power ratio) have become more frequently utilized (Muñoz-López et al, 2021a). The literature has attempted to quantify how moments of inertia impact flywheel resistance training measures (such as peak power) to improve training outcomes and load management (Sabido et al, 2018;Muñoz-López et al, 2021b;O'Brien et al, 2021;Puustinen et al, 2021). Altering inertia (analyzed at group level rather than individually) did not affect peak power or trunk lean, but did alter velocity-highlighting that not all training variables may be equally effective for determining training intensity (McErlain-Naylor and Beato, 2020;Worcester et al, 2020).…”

“…Unilateral knee extensions utilizing higher rather than lower moments of inertia have resulted in greater concentric and eccentric peak power values (Martinez-Aranda and Fernandez-Gonzalo, 2017). In contrast, other exercises (e.g., squats, deadlifts) reported higher peak power at lower, rather than higher, moments of inertias (Sabido et al, 2018;Piqueras-Sanchiz et al, 2020;O'Brien et al, 2021). Furthermore, eccentric overload was achieved only with higher moments of inertia in certain investigations (Sabido et al, 2018;O'Brien et al, 2021), whereas other exercises achieved eccentric overload regardless of the moment of inertia used (Martinez-Aranda and Fernandez-Gonzalo, 2017;Piqueras-Sanchiz et al, 2020).…”

“…Moreover, a second aim was to analyze the intersession reliability of the concentric and eccentric peak power and eccentric:concentric peak power ratio during both exercises. It was hypothesized that lower inertias would result in greater peak power values and that eccentric overload will only be attained with higher moments of inertia, as seen with bilateral and unilateral flywheel exercises (Martinez-Aranda and Fernandez-Gonzalo, 2017;Sabido et al, 2018;O'Brien et al, 2021).…”

The Efficacy of Flywheel Inertia Training to Enhance Hamstring Strength

“…A more recent hamstring specific intervention [ 38 ] investigated the effects of inertial load in a flywheel Romanian deadlift. Fourteen recreationally trained males partook in the study, and they all had a minimum of two years of resistance training experience.…”