Publications by authors named "Paul Comfort"

Kissick, CR, Techmanski, BS, Comfort, P, and Suchomel, TJ. The reliability, bias, differences, and agreement between velocity measurement devices during the hang clean pull. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-This study examined the reliability, bias, differences, and agreement between the GymAware PowerTool (GA) and Tendo Power Analyzer (TENDO) during the hang clean pull (HCP).

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Suchomel, TJ, Kissick, CR, Techmanski, BS, Mann, JB, and Comfort, P. Velocity-based training with weightlifting derivatives: Barbell and system velocity comparisons. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-The aim of this study was to examine the differences in barbell and system (i.

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Objectives: The primary purposes were (a) to estimate the pooled effects of injury prevention programs (IPPs) on reducing overall and some specific body regions (lower extremity, thigh, knee, and ankle) injury incidence rates (IIRs) and (b) to compare the effects of single- and multi-component IPPs on mitigating injury risk in youth team sport athletes. A secondary objective was to explore the individual effects of different components on these IIRs.

Materials And Methods: Searches were performed up to 15 January 2024 in PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane Library.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to investigate the differences in early versus late rapid force production in female soccer players during a specific hamstring assessment using force plates.
  • 21 elite female soccer players participated, and they performed maximal isometric contractions to measure peak force and rapid force (RF) development at two time intervals: early (0-100 ms) and late (100-200 ms).
  • Results showed significant differences, with early RF reaching about 52-54% of peak force compared to only about 15% for late RF, suggesting that tracking early RF could help practitioners optimize performance assessment and inform injury prevention strategies.
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The aim of this study was to explore the reliability and feasibility of the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) and dynamic strength index (DSI) in semi-professional handball players (seventeen male and eighteen female). A cross-sectional design was used to determine the test-retest reliability of several kinetic metrics registered with a force plates. The peak force, peak relative force, rate of force development (RFD ), and impulse were selected from the IMTP test, whereas the peak propulsive force was chosen from the countermovement jump test to obtain the DSI.

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A range of field-based tests have been proposed for inclusion in physical performance assessment batteries. However, there are obvious time and human resources constraints in applied settings. The knowledge of potential relationships between tests on performance, asymmetries, as well as maturation-induced changes, may help select the most informative and least time-consuming testing battery.

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Suchomel, TJ, Techmanski, BS, Kissick, CR, and Comfort, P. Can the velocity of a 1RM hang power clean be used to estimate a 1RM hang high pull? J Strength Cond Res 38(7): 1321-1325, 2024-The purpose of this study was to estimate the 1-repetition maximum hang high pull (1RM HHP) using the peak barbell velocity of a 1RM hang power clean (HPC). Fifteen resistance-trained men (age = 25.

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Article Synopsis
  • - This study compared the maximum and rapid force production of Spanish football players by assessing differences in age (senior vs junior) and competition level (national vs regional).
  • - Using isometric midthigh pulls on a force plate, they measured peak force, relative peak force, and rate of force development, finding significant differences based on competition level and age.
  • - Results indicated that national players were stronger than regional ones, and senior players outperformed juniors in peak force, highlighting the importance of strength training for younger athletes to enhance performance.
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Background: Survival from pediatric critical illness in high-income countries is high, and the focus now must be on optimizing the recovery of survivors. Muscle mass wasting during critical illness is problematic, so identifying factors that may reduce this is important. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between quadricep muscle mass wasting (assessed by ultrasound), with protein and energy intake during and after pediatric critical illness.

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The aim of this study was to compare the effects of rest redistribution (RR) on kinetics and kinematics during the hang pull (HP). Twenty-one male athletes (age 29.5 ± 4.

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The primary aim of this study was to determine whether relative strength explains the differences in the rapid force production (force developed during first 150-, 200-, and 250 ms) of females and males, and to evaluate the relationships between peak force and rapid force production. Sixty-three team sport athletes (females: n = 25, age = 21.5 ± 1.

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Calf injuries are common in professional football; thus, the establishment of reliable and time-efficient methods of measuring the peak force capabilities of the plantar flexors with equipment that is accessible to football practitioners is valuable. In this study, we determined the preliminary reliability and feasibility of a new test, termed the kneeling isometric plantar flexion test (KIPFT), for footballers. Twenty-one male youth footballers (age = 17.

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Background: Professional rugby union is a high-intensity contact sport with position-specific high training and match volumes across a season that may lead to periods of fatigue if above a typically experienced threshold. This study assesses the influence of match play and/or training on fatigue levels in rugby union players.

Objective: We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of measures used to assess fatigue status in male professional rugby union players.

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Ripley, NJ, Comfort, P, and McMahon, JJ. Relationships between modifiable risk factors of hamstring strain injury. J Strength Cond Res 38(3): 510-516, 2024-The aims of this study were to determine whether any relationship exists between eccentric hamstring strength and isokinetic strength imbalances and bicep femoris long head (BF LH ) architecture.

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Musculoskeletal injuries are a common health problem among sporting populations. Such injuries come with a high financial burden to the involved organisations and can have a detrimental impact on the career attainment of injured individuals. Force plates are now a common tool available to sport and exercise science and medicine professionals to enable them to profile injury risk predisposition and modulate the rehabilitation process within sporting environments.

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Background: Maximal lower-body strength can be assessed both dynamically and isometrically; however, the relationship between the changes in these 2 forms of strength following resistance training is not well understood.

Purpose: To systematically review and analyze the effects of resistance training on changes in maximal dynamic (1-repetition-maximum back squat, deadlift, and power clean) and position-matched isometric strength (isometric midthigh pull and the isometric squat). In addition, individual-level data were used to quantify the agreement and relationship between changes in dynamic and isometric strength.

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Chavda, S, Comfort, P, Lake, JP, Bishop, C, and Turner, AN. Predicting weight category-specific performance zones for Olympic, World, and European weightlifting competitions. J Strength Cond Res 37(10): 2038-2045, 2023-Understanding the total likely required weight category to achieve a specific rank within a specific competition can aid in the long-term and short-term preparation and tactics for performance teams.

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Background: Load-velocity relationships are commonly used to estimate one-repetition maximums (1RMs). Proponents suggest these estimates can be obtained at high frequencies and assist with manipulating loads according to session-by-session fluctuations. Given their increasing popularity and development of associated technologies, a range of load-velocity approaches have been investigated.

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Force plate testing is becoming more commonplace in sport due to the advent of commercially available, portable, and affordable force plate systems (i.e., hardware and software).

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Meechan, D, McMahon, JJ, Suchomel, TJ, and Comfort, P. The effect of rest redistribution on kinetic and kinematic variables during the countermovement shrug. J Strength Cond Res 37(7): 1358-1366, 2023-This study compared the effects of rest redistribution (RR) on kinetic and kinematic variables during the countermovement shrug (CMS).

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This study examined the reliability, potential bias, and practical differences between the GymAware Powertool (GA), Tendo Power Analyzer (TENDO), and Push Band 2.0 (PUSH) during the jump shrug (JS) and hang high pull (HHP) performed across a spectrum of loads. Fifteen resistance-trained men performed JS and HHP repetitions with 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% of their 1RM hang power clean, and mean (MBV) and peak barbell velocity (PBV) were determined by each velocity measurement device.

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Comfort, P, Haff, GG, Suchomel, TJ, Soriano, MA, Pierce, KC, Hornsby, WG, Haff, EE, Sommerfield, LM, Chavda, S, Morris, SJ, Fry, AC, and Stone, MH. National Strength and Conditioning Association position statement on weightlifting for sports performance. J Strength Cond Res 37(6): 1163-1190, 2023-The origins of weightlifting and feats of strength span back to ancient Egypt, China, and Greece, with the introduction of weightlifting into the Olympic Games in 1896.

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Background: The heights obtained during the countermovement jump and drop jump tests have been measured by numerous studies using different calculation methods and pieces of equipment. However, the differences in calculation methods and equipment used have resulted in discrepancies in jump height being reported.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to examine the available literature pertaining to the different calculation methods to estimate the jump height during the countermovement jump and drop jump.

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The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) has commonly been investigated in isolation, however, within practice multiple modalities are commonly incorporated. However, the NHE has a low level of compliance within sport, with sprinting being potentially being preferred. The present study aimed to observe the effect of a lower-limb program with either additional NHE or sprinting on the modifiable risk factors hamstring strain injury (HSI) and athletic performance.

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