Performance Enhancement Strength Training
Dec 14, 2015
Performance Enhancement
Strength Training
Muscle Fiber type & Performance Slow twitch
More efficient using oxygen to generate fuel for continuous extended muscle contractions
Contract slowly, but continue for long periods of time
Muscle Fiber type & Performance Fast twitch
Generates short bursts of strength or speed Fatigue quickly
Muscle Fiber type & Performance Fiber type may influence what type of sports
an athlete is naturally good at. Slow twitch
Cycling, jogging, swimming, running Fast twitch
Sprinting, jumping, other explosive activities Ratios of slow/fast twitch muscles vary by
person. General population – close to equal ration Elite athletes – definite concentration of one type
or another.
Types of strength training movements Isometric
No movement Performed against fixed resistance Least effective form Ex: wall sit, stationary press
Types of strength training movements Isotonic
Joint moved through full range of motion against fixed weight, speed is variable
Greatest gains in the initial movement, least at the mid point
Ex: bench press, bicep curls, etc.
Types of strength training movements Isokinetic
Variable resistance with fixed speed
Resistance accommodates to match the force applied
Machine is required
Types of strength training movements Eccentric
Negative work Muscle lengthened
while weight is lowered
Produce great strength gains, but more muscle soreness
Ex: down movement of bicep curl
Types of strength training movements Concentric
Positive work Muscle shortens
as weight is lifted Ex: up movement
of bicep curl
Types of strength training movements Closed chain exercises
Distal segment is fixed Allows strength gains of several muscle groups Ex: body squats, lunges, push ups
Types of strength training movements Open chain exercise
Distal segments are not fixed & freely moving in space
Good at targeting one set of muscles, but increases the forces transmitted to the involved joint
Ex: knee extensions, any throwing movement
Types of strength training movements Plyometrics
Muscles are repeatedly and rapidly stretched (loaded) and then contracted
The aim is to improve muscle power Maximize stretch reflex Rate is more important than the magnitude of the
stretch Ex: jumps, bounds, skips, hops, medicine ball
throws
Types of strength training movements Plyometrics cont.
Stretch reflex – stretch the muscle from its resting length immediately before the concentric contraction
The greater the stretch, the greater the load (power generated) the muscle can lift.
Methods of resistance training Free weights
Variety of exercise selection
Athlete in control of range of motion
Builds coordination Recruits stabilizing
muscles to control movement
Methods of resistance training Weight machines
Simple to use Relatively safe Don’t require lots of
coordination Limited to targeting
one muscle group Body may not
anatomically match the movement of the machine.
Methods of resistance training Exercise tubing
Similar advantages to free weights High variety of exercise selection May not be able to generate enough force to
increase strength gains as free weights
Methods of resistance training Body weight exercises
Does not require any equipment Exercises can be very functional and sport specific Difficult for experienced athletes to achieve high
level of intensity without high number of repetitions
Strength conditioning principles General guidelines
Safety first Allow proper rest between exercises Balance training program to prevent injury and
overuse Use a spotter
Strength conditioning principles Repetition: performing the particular exercise
one time Set: grouping of a specific exercise into a
number of repetitions Resistance: the opposing force to a muscle
contraction Strength & size: high resistance / low
repetitions Muscular endurance: low resistance / high
repetitions Power: rapid movements