Utility of an Isometric Midthigh Pull Test to Assess Lower Body Muscular Strength in Professional Netball Players

Abstract

Purpose: This study established the relationship between isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) peak force and court-based jumping, sprinting, and change of direction (COD) performance in professional netball players. The change in IMTP peak force in response to sport-specific training was also examined. Methods: IMTP peak force and court-based jumping, sprinting, and COD were collected in 18 female athletes contracted to a Suncorp Super Netball team. Linear regression models established the relationship between absolute and normalized strength values and court-based performance measures in the participant cohort. Changes in IMTP peak force and court-based performance measures were examined following 2 consecutive preseason training blocks in a subset of participants. Results: The IMTP peak force values normalized to body mass were found to be determinants of court-based jumping, sprinting, and COD performance in the participant cohort (R2 = .34–.65, P ≤ .016). The participants showed increases in absolute (mean ± SE = 398 ± 68.5 N, P < .001, Hedge g = 0.70 [−0.05 to 1.35]) and normalized IMTP peak force (mean ± SE = 4.6 ± 0.78 N·kg−1, P < .001, Hedge g = 0.47 [−0.04 to 0.97]) over 2 consecutive training blocks that coincided with improvements in jumping, sprinting, and COD performances. Conclusion: IMTP peak force is a determinant of court-based jumping, sprinting, and COD performance and is sensitive to training in professional netball players. These results support the utility of the IMTP test to monitor the development and maintenance of maximal lower body muscular strength in these athletes.

Body composition in professional female netball players within and between seasons: a cohort study

“…1). These body composition changes coincide with the largest improvement in absolute and relative muscular strength during preseason training in this cohort [19]. The successive increase in lean mass following the second preseason training block suggests maximal muscular strength training also induced a hormonal response associated with increased muscle mass, albeit not to the same extent as the first training block.…”

“…Being taller might be less of an advantage for midcourt players, and instead these players tend to have higher lean mass and lower fat mass relative to their body mass and stature compared to goal circle players. Reducing fat mass and increasing muscle mass is likely a training objective of both midcourt and goal circle players given the importance of relative muscular strength to court-based jumping, sprinting and change of direction performance [18,19]. However, lower fat mass might have greater importance to midcourt players because of the higher frequency and duration of efforts where they're required to overcome their body's inertia and the greater distance that they cover on court compared to goal circles players [2,8].…”

“…Similarly, research in netball has shown players from higher standards have greater body mass and less body fat percentage than players from lower standards [7]. This might be explained by a relationship between muscle volume, cross-sectional area and muscular strength that is also a determinant of jumping, sprinting and change of direction performance in netball players [17][18][19]. Nevertheless, further research is needed to establish the physique traits of netball players from the highest playing standards and differences that exist between playing positions.…”

Isometric Resistance Training Effects on Lower Limb Muscle Activity

“…The exercise grade is 2, and there is no history of lower limb joint muscle injury. 3 We randomly divided the subjects into a super isometric resistance training group (PWT) and a control group (CG). Age, height, and weight were (17.25±1.04) years, (193.29±5.83) cm, (87.85±10.25) kg; (18.25±2.36) years, (188.90±4.39) cm, (87.86±12.60) kg, respectively.…”