This study explored the effects of an 8-week repeated backward running training (RBRT) programme on measures of physical fitness in youth male soccer players. Youth male soccer players were randomly allocated into a RBRT group (n = 20; 13.95 ± 0.22y) or a control group (CG; n = 16; 14.86 ± 0.29y). The CG continued normal soccer training, while the RBRT group replaced some soccer drills with RBRT twice per week. Within-group analysis revealed that RBRT improved all performance variables (∆-9.99% to 14.50%; effect size [ES] = −1.79 to 1.29; p ≤ 0.001). Meanwhile, trivial-to-moderate detrimental effects on sprinting and change of direction (CoD) speed (∆1.55% to 10.40%; p ≤ 0.05) were noted in the CG. The number of individuals improving performance above the smallest worthwhile change ranged from 65–100% across all performance variables in the RBRT group, whereas<50% in the CG reached that threshold. The between-group analysis indicated that the RBRT group improved performance on all performance tasks more than the CG (ES = −2.23 to 1.10; p ≤ 0.05). These findings demonstrate that substituting part of a standard soccer training regimen with RBRT can enhance youth soccer players' sprinting, CoD, jumping, and RSA performance.
ABSTRACT With striking force playing such a critical role in the success of full-contact combat sports such as mixed martial arts, taekwondo, and boxing, coaches and scientists must be able to track this performance metric accurately and reliably. This review will cover practitioner understanding of key kinetic variables used in the assessment of striking important concepts relating to the validity, reliability, and reporting of meaningful performance changes in the assessment process, a critique of the methods used to monitor changes in striking forces, and provide practical recommendations for practitioners in the field. This understanding will help coaches and scientists assess and interpret the effectiveness of training.
Lower-limb wearable resistance (WR) provides a specific and targeted overload to the musculature involved in sprint running, however, it is unknown if greater impact forces occur with the additional limb mass. This study compared the contact times and ground reaction force waveforms between sprint running with no load and 2% body mass (BM) shank-positioned WR over 30 m. Fifteen male university-level sprint specialists completed two maximum effort sprints with each condition in a randomized order. Sprint running with shank WR resulted in trivial changes to contact times at 5 m, 10 m, and 20 m (effect size [ES] = <0.20, p > 0.05) and a small, significant increase to contact time at 30 m by 1.94% (ES = 0.25, p = 0.03). Significant differences in ground reaction force between unloaded and shank loaded sprint running were limited to the anterior-posterior direction and occurred between 20% and 30% of ground contact at 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m. Shank WR did not result in greater magnitudes of horizontal or vertical forces during the initial impact portion of ground contact. Practitioners can prescribe shank WR training with loads ≤2% BM without concern for increased risk of injurious impact forces.
Background: Adding wearable resistance (WR) to training results in superior performance compared with unloaded conditions. However, it is unclear if adding WR during warm-up influences training load (TL) in the subsequent session. The aim of this research was to track TL in soccer players during the transition from late preseason to early in-season and examine whether adding WR to the lower leg during a warm-up influenced TL measures during warm-ups and on-field training sessions after WR was removed. Hypothesis: The addition of WR worn on the lower legs during an on-field warm-up would lead to decreases in relatively high-intensity external TL metrics, such as distance covered >6.11 m∙s −1 and acceleration and deceleration >/<3 m∙s −2 and increases in internal TL during the warm-up, yet would have little effect on the subsequent training session when WR was removed. Study Design: Matched-pair randomized design. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: A total of 28 soccer players were allocated to either a WR training (WRT = 14) or unloaded (control [CON] = 14) group. Both groups performed the same warm-up and on-field training for 8 weeks, with the WRT group wearing 200 g to 600 g loads on their lower leg during the warm-up. External TL was measured via global positioning system data and internal TL was assessed using session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE × time per session). Results: No statistically significant between-group differences ( P ≥ 0.05) were identified for any TL measurement during either warm-ups or training sessions. Lower leg WR resulted in trivial to moderate effects for all external TL metrics (−16.9% to 2.40%; d = −0.61 to 0.14) and sRPE (−0.33%; d = −0.03) during the warm-up and trivial to small effects on all external TL metrics (−8.95% to −0.36%; d = −0.45 to −0.30) and sRPE (3.39%; d = 0.33) during training sessions. Conclusion: Warming up with lower leg WR negatively affects neither the quality and quantity of the warm-up nor the subsequent training session once WR is removed. Clinical Relevance: Using WR on the lower leg during on-field warm-ups may be a means to “microdose” strength training while not unduly increasing TL. However, further research is needed to determine the influence of WR on strength qualities.
ABSTRACT The Olympic combat sport of judo is characterized by high-intensity intermittent efforts to throw an opponent to the ground, pinning, or submitting them. High-level judo coaches have established neuromuscular performance as one of the key performance indicators in judo. This is likely because the judo athlete performs several neuromuscular challenges, including establishing grip dominance while engaging an opponent when standing, performing highly technical throws, and exerting dynamic and isometric contractions to control an opponent on the ground. As such, a stronger judo practitioner has an advantage over opponents with comparable technical ability. With that in mind, this review aims to examine the role different types of strength play in judo performance and provide training recommendations based on neuromuscular attributes for training elite judo athletes.
Abstract Horizontal force‐velocity (F‐V) profiling is a strategy to assess athletes’ individual performance capabilities during sprinting. This study investigated the acute changes in F‐V profiles during sprinting of fourteen collegiate male sprinters with a mean 100‐m sprint time of 11.40 ± 0.39 s, from a split‐stance starting position. The subjects sprinted 30‐m with, and without, wearable resistance (WR) equivalent to 2% body mass, attached to their forearms. Sprinting time at 5, 10, 20, and 30‐m was assessed using laser technology. External horizontal F‐V relationships were calculated via velocity‐time signals. Maximal theoretical velocity ( V 0 ), theoretical relative and absolute horizontal force ( F 0 ), and horizontal power ( P max ) were determined from the F‐V relationship. Paired t‐tests were used to determine statistical differences ( p ≤ 0.05) in variables across conditions with Cohen's d as effect sizes (ES) calculated to assess practical changes. Sprint times at 10‐m and beyond were significantly increased (1.9–3.3%, p 0.01–0.03, ES 0.46–0.60) with WR compared to unloaded sprinting. The only significant change in F‐V with the WR condition was found in relative P max system (−6.1%, p 0.01, ES 0.66). A small decrease was reported in V 0 (−1.0%, p 0.11, ES 0.27), with small to medium ES decreases reported in F 0 (−4.8% to −6.1%, p 0.07–0.21, ES 0.25‐0.51) and P max (−4.3% to −4.6%, p 0.06–0.08, ES 0.32–0.45). The greater changes to F 0 and P max suggest that forearm WR may be a possible training tool for athletes who wish to focus on force and power adaptation during sprint acceleration from a standing start.
When new protocols are developed, there is a requirement to investigate test-retest reliability of measures for valid use and interpretation of data in research and practice. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to determine the inter-day reliability of the cable put and seated rotation assessment protocols. On three occasions, nine resistance-trained men performed cable puts and cable rotations at different loads between 6 and 42 kg on a commercially available cable cross over machine. Load stack movement was recorded using a PT5A linear position transducer from which all kinematic and kinetic variables were calculated. Reliability was excellent for peak velocity and displacement based on intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV) across the majority of loads and movements (cable put: ICC = 0.92 to 0.99, CV = 3.1% to 8.6%; cable seated rotation: ICC = 0.76 to 0.99, CV = -1.7% to 16.1%). However, kinetic variables demonstrated inadequate reliability across the majority of days, loads and movements (ICC = 0.70, CV >10%). It was concluded that peak velocity is a reliable kinematic measure to assess muscular capability from cable put and seated rotation protocols; however, kinetic measures are too variable to provide reliable outputs across testing occasions.
This study examined the acute effects of different loading protocols on 180° change of direction (COD) performance in eleven male handball players. Participants performed a 10-0-5 COD test under seven conditions: without an external load, and with 3, 6, and 9 kg loads applied under two modes—assisted into the COD and resisted out of it and resisted into the COD and assisted out of it. While total COD time was not affected (p = 0.098; η2 = 0.16), significant phase effects were observed (p < 0.001; η2 ≥ 0.55). Loading protocols significantly influenced velocity, acceleration, and their distances from COD (p < 0.001; η2 ≥ 0.37). Significant phase effects were observed for all step kinematic variables (p ≤ 0.037; η2 ≥ 0.67), except contact time, and significant interaction (phase*condition) effects for all variables (p ≤ 0.004; η2 ≥ 0.08), except for step frequency. Assisted-resisted protocols increased deceleration demands through higher COD entry velocities, displaying fewer but longer steps in the acceleration phase and greater steps taken during the deceleration phase. Resisted-assisted protocols decreased deceleration demands due to lower COD entry velocities, displaying shorter, but more steps taken in the acceleration phase, and fewer steps taken in the deceleration phase. These findings suggest that assisted-resisted and resisted-assisted loading protocols can be used to selectively overload specific phases of COD performance.
ABSTRACT To succeed in full contact combat sports like mixed martial arts, tae kwon do, and boxing, athletes must deliver a greater number of damaging strikes than they receive. Producing knockdowns, rendering unconsciousness, and scoring points can be accomplished through the application of high magnitudes of striking forces. There is evidence that striking forces can be enhanced through either nonspecific or specific strength and conditioning methods or a combination thereof. To better assist practitioners working with combat sport athletes, this article reviews current empirical evidence on how combat sport athletes respond to different methods of resistance training and offers practical recommendations for implementing nonspecific and specific exercises.
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