Post-Activation Performance Enhancement (PAPE) Increases Jumping Power in Elite Female Volleyball Athletes.

This study investigated PAPE effects of two conditioning activities (CA) and recovery times on the peak jumping power (PP) of elite female volleyball athletes. Players performed CA separately: three sets of three repetitions of back squats with 85% of 1RM (BS) or one set of five depth drops (DD). PP was measured with countermovement (CMJ) and squat jumps (SJ) before (pre-test) and two minutes (post-test 1) and six hours (post-test 2) after each CA.

Identification of Optimal Movement Patterns for Energy Pumping.

Energy pumping is a way to gain kinetic energy based on an active vertical center of mass movement in rollers in sports like skateboarding, skicross, snowboard cross and BMX. While the principle of the energy transfer from the vertical movement to the horizontal movement is well understood, the question of how to achieve the optimal energy transfer is still unresolved. In this paper, we introduce an inverse pendulum model to describe the movement of the center of mass of an athlete performing energy pumping.

Kinematic and Kinetic Characteristics of Repetitive Countermovement Jumps with Accentuated Eccentric Loading.

Two methods for challenging the musculoskeletal and nervous systems to better exploit the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) mechanism during plyometric training are reactive strength exercises and accentuated eccentric loading (AEL). Combining repetitive, reactive jumping with AEL poses a novel approach, in which the effects of both methods may be combined to elicit a unique stimulus. This study compared kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic variables between a control (CON1) and two AEL conditions (AEL2 and AEL3).

Frequency Shifts in Muscle Activation during Static Strength Elements on the Rings before and after an Eccentric Training Intervention in Male Gymnasts.

During ring performance in men's gymnastics, static strength elements require a high level of maximal muscular strength. The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of a four-week eccentric-isokinetic training intervention in the frequency spectra of the wavelet-transformed electromyogram (EMG) during the two static strength elements, the swallow and support scale, in different time intervals during the performance. The gymnasts performed an instrumented movement analysis on the rings, once before the intervention and twice after.

Validity and Effects of Placement of Velocity-Based Training Devices.

Velocity-based training (VBT) is a resistance training method by which training variables are manipulated based on kinematic outcomes, e.g., barbell velocity.

The "" Journal Club Series: Resistance Training.

We are glad to introduce the Second Journal Club of Volume Five, Second Issue. This edition is focused on relevant studies published in the last few years in the field of resistance training, chosen by our Editorial Board members and their colleagues. We hope to stimulate your curiosity in this field and to share with you the passion for the sport, seen also from the scientific point of view.

Anaerobic Power Assessment in Athletes: Are Cycling and Vertical Jump Tests Interchangeable?

Regularly assessing anaerobic power is important for athletes from sports with an explosive strength component. Understanding the differences and overlap between different assessment methods might help coaches or smaller-scale testing facilities maximize financial and temporal resources. Therefore, this study investigated the degree to which cycling sprint and vertical jump tests are interchangeable for determining peak mechanical leg power output in strength-trained athletes.

Specific Eccentric-Isokinetic Cluster Training Improves Static Strength Elements on Rings for Elite Gymnasts.

In gymnastics, coaches are constantly searching for efficient training methods in order to improve the athletes' performance. Therefore, in this study we aimed to investigate the effects of a novel, four-week, gymnastic-specific, eccentric-isokinetic (0.1 m/s) cluster training on a computer-controlled training device on the improvement of two static strength elements on rings (swallow and support scale).

Relationship between Cyclic and Non-Cyclic Force-Velocity Characteristics in BMX Cyclists.

Especially for bicycle motocross (BMX) cyclists, transfer of muscular force-velocity () characteristics between common strength training exercises and cycling is important. This study investigated the relationship between characteristics in a common training exercise (squat jumps) and a sport-specific task (cycling) in high-level BMX racers by exploring the degree to which and torque-cadence () characteristics correspond. Twelve BMX racers performed an (multiple loaded squat jump) and two tests (ramp starts and flat-ground sprints).

Prioritizing Physical Determinants of International Elite Pole Vaulting Performance.

Gross, M, Büchler Greeley, N, and Hübner, K. Prioritizing physical determinants of international elite pole vaulting performance. J Strength Cond Res 34(1): 162-171, 2020-The pole vault is a complex track and field discipline requiring speed, strength, and efficient technique.

Conditioning exercises in ski jumping: biomechanical relationship of squat jumps, imitation jumps, and hill jumps.

As hill jumps are very time-consuming, ski jumping athletes often perform various imitation jumps during training. The performed jumps should be similar to hill jumps, but a direct comparison of the kinetic and kinematic parameters has not been performed yet. Therefore, this study aimed to correlate 11 common parameters during hill jumps (Oberstdorf Germany), squat jumps (wearing indoor shoes), and various imitation jumps (rolling 4°, rolling flat, static; jumping equipment or indoor shoes) on a custom-built instrumented vehicle with a catch by the coach.

Beta-alanine supplementation improves jumping power and affects severe-intensity performance in professional alpine skiers.

Introduction: Supplementation with beta-alanine may have positive effects on severe-intensity, intermittent, and isometric strength-endurance performance. These could be advantageous for competitive alpine skiers, whose races last 45 to 150 s, require metabolic power above the aerobic maximum, and involve isometric muscle work. Further, beta-alanine supplementation affects the muscle force-frequency relationship, which could influence explosiveness.

High intensity training and energy production during 90-second box jump in junior alpine skiers.

Alpine ski races can last up to 2.5 minutes and have very high metabolic demands. One limiting factor for performance is insufficient aerobic energy supply.

Effects of beta-alanine supplementation and interval training on physiological determinants of severe exercise performance.

Introduction: We aimed to manipulate physiological determinants of severe exercise performance. We hypothesized that (1) beta-alanine supplementation would increase intramuscular carnosine and buffering capacity and dampen acidosis during severe cycling, (2) that high-intensity interval training (HIT) would enhance aerobic energy contribution during severe cycling, and (3) that HIT preceded by beta-alanine supplementation would have greater benefits.

Methods: Sixteen active men performed incremental cycling tests and 90-s severe (110 % peak power) cycling tests at three time points: before and after oral supplementation with either beta-alanine or placebo, and after an 11-days HIT block (9 sessions, 4 × 4 min), which followed supplementation.

Seasonal variation of VO 2 max and the VO2-work rate relationship in elite Alpine skiers.

Purpose: Alpine ski performance relates closely to both anaerobic and aerobic capacities. During their competitive season, skiers greatly reduce endurance and weight training, and on-snow training becomes predominant. To typify this shift, we compared exhaustive ramp cycling and squat (SJ) and countermovement jumping (CMJ) performance in elite males before and after their competitive season.

Nonconsecutive- versus consecutive-day high-intensity interval training in cyclists.

Purpose: We compared the effects of a high-intensity interval training (HIT) program completed on three consecutive or nonconsecutive days per week for 3 wk on VO2peak, peak aerobic power output (PPOa), and 5-km time trial (TT5k) performance in trained cyclists.

Methods: Fifteen trained cyclists completed a TT5k and an incremental test to exhaustion for VO2peak and PPOa determination before and after training. Pretraining TT5k times were used to form groups, one of which (N=9) performed three HIT sessions per week on consecutive days (CD), while the other (N=6) did so on nonconsecutive days (NCD).