The impact of strength level on adaptations to combined weightlifting, plyometric, and ballistic training

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the magnitude of adaptation to integrated ballistic training is influenced by initial strength level. Such information is needed to inform resistance training guidelines for both higher- and lower-level athlete populations. To this end, two groups of distinctly different strength levels (stronger: one-repetition-maximum (1RM) squat = 2.01 ± 0.15 kg·BM ; weaker: 1.20 ± 0.20 kg·BM ) completed 10 weeks of resistance training incorporating weightlifting derivatives, plyometric actions, and ballistic exercises. Testing occurred at pre-, mid-, and post-training. Measures included variables derived from the incremental-load jump squat and the 1RM squat, alongside muscle activity (electromyography), and jump mechanics (force-time comparisons throughout the entire movement). The primary outcome variable was peak velocity derived from the unloaded jump squat. It was revealed that the stronger group displayed a greater (P = .05) change in peak velocity at mid-test (baseline: 2.65 ± 0.10 m/s, mid-test: 2.80 ± 0.17 m/s) but not post-test (2.85 ± 0.18 m/s) when compared to the weaker participants (baseline 2.43 ± 0.09, mid-test. 2.47 ± 0.11, post-test: 2.61 ± 0.10 m/s). Different changes occurred between groups in the force-velocity relationship (P = .001-.04) and jump mechanics (P ≤ .05), while only the stronger group displayed increases in muscle activation (P = .05). In conclusion, the magnitude of improvement in peak velocity was significantly influenced by pre-existing strength level in the early stage of training. Changes in the mechanisms underpinning performance were less distinct.

Motor abilities: methods of strength and strength endurance development in middle-school-aged boys in a 4-week physical training cycle

“…The study ascertained that the use of the combined method of strength development and the circuit training method in a one-month physical training cycle positively affected the overall development of motor abilities in the 6 th -8 th grade boys. The obtained results of the study characterize the peculiarities of the dynamics of middle schoolers' motor fitness and supplement the data of Ivashchenko et al [17], James et al [18] on the holistic character of motor abilities development in children and adolescents; the data of Blagrove et al [19], Prykhodko [20] on the regularities of motor abilities development in children and adolescents.…”

Implementing Eccentric Resistance Training—Part 1: A Brief Review of Existing Methods

“…Further research indicated that while younger athletes may improve their change of direction performance using plyometric exercise, older athletes may display greater benefits [156]. It should be noted that stronger individuals may receive greater training benefits from PT compared with weaker individuals [171,172]. In summary, it is important to begin a PT progression with youth athletes with low intensity plyometric exercises with an appropriate training volume before progressing them to higher training volumes and eventually higher intensity plyometric exercises.…”

Implementing Eccentric Resistance Training—Part 2: Practical Recommendations

“…In contrast, stronger individuals may benefit more from AEL and high intensity PT than their weaker counterparts. For example, previous research suggests that stronger individuals may benefit more from advanced methods of training such as PT [110,111]. This is likely due to their ability to tolerate greater ECC force and RFD ECC .…”