Sports Sciences Commons^™

The Performance Profile Of A Division I Football Team, Seth B. Long, Tyler Shumate, Dierdra K. Bycura, Scott N. Drum

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Reporting athletic performance characteristics of a Division I collegiate football team may serve to inform coaching personnel and sports performance staff about the most versatile players to utilize for various competitions. Performance data may also help guide developing athletes about benchmarks to achieve for optimal competitiveness. PURPOSE: Our aim was to observe athletic performance characteristics of and differences between designated starters (ST) vs non-starters (NST). METHODS: 44 athletes – ST (n=22) vs NST (n=22) – were selected using a convenience sample and equally distributed between offense and defense positions. Preseason performance data were analyzed related to select power, including …

Firefighter Trainee Fitness, Reasons For Academy Release, And Predictive Capabilities Of Fitness Tests, Robert G. Lockie, Fernando Montes, Robin (Rob) Marc Orr, J. Jay Dawes

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Firefighter trainees need a level of fitness to be admitted to and complete a training academy. Fitness could indicate a trainee’s likelihood of graduation. PURPOSE: Determine fitness differences between trainees who graduated (GRAD) or were released due to a) injury (RELI), b) skills test performance failures (RELP), or c) resignation (RELR); and whether fitness predicted graduation or academy release. METHODS: Data from an occupational physical ability test (OPAT) for 686 trainees were analyzed, including: Illinois agility test; push-ups; pull-ups; leg tucks; estimated maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O_2max) from the multistage fitness test; backwards overhead 4.54-kg medicine ball …

The Effects Of Acute Beetroot Juice Ingestion On Exercise And Cognitive Performance In Female Athletes, Isabella G. Lincoln, Courtney Merrill, Katherine M. Price, Sean T. Karl, Ryan T. Kenney, Alyssa A. Riley, Chandler F. Riley, Maya A. Hammer, Adam Pennell, Rachel Tan

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice can enhance intense exercise performance which is attributed to enhanced skeletal muscle contractility. However, limited data exist in females and it is unknown whether dietary nitrate has an ergogenic effect in this population. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential effects of acute nitrate ingestion on a battery of exercise performance and cognitive tests before and after fatiguing intermittent running exercise. METHODS: Fifteen female team-sport athletes were assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to consume nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR; 12 mmol of nitrate) and nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (PL; 0.10 mmol of nitrate) 2.5 h prior to …

The Impact Of Squat Velocity On Force, Power, And Muscle Activity, Kyle D. Puccini, James Baldonado, Bonnie Yee, Christie R. O'Hara

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The squat is a thoroughly examined movement pattern and commonly used in sport performance training protocols, rehabilitation programs, and recreational exercise. Previous research measuring absolute strength has shown hamstring muscle activity in a six-repetition max barbell back squats. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of varying squat velocities (25, 50, 75 deg/s) on force, power, and the activation of the quadricep and hamstring muscles. Using a single-blind randomized research design, we hypothesized that hamstring muscle activity will increase at faster squat velocities. Our secondary hypothesis is that peak power will occur at 50 deg/s and …

Wellness And Longevity Program For Adults And Older Adults, Oliver D. Fay

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

There are many areas of practice to choose from in the field of Occupational therapy (OT). OT has an incredibly diverse career path, with new opportunities being created every day. I completed my doctoral capstone experience at Iridium Enterprises with Dr. Aaron Green, who has a wealth of experience in business and entrepreneurship. My ACOTE focus areas were administration and program development. I wanted to learn how a business was properly developed and managed from the ground up.

Through this experience, I learned how to methodically approach market research and how to narrow in on a business idea. Our goal …

Physical Effort Ability In Counter Movement Jump Depending On The Kind Of Warm-Up And Surface Temperature Of The Quadriceps, Jakub Grzegorz Adamczyk, Dariusz Boguszewski, Marcin Siewierski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of this research was an attempt at qualifying the influence of various kinds of warm-up on physical effort ability, as well as examining whether there exists any dependence between the surface temperature of the quadricipital muscle of the thigh and the power expressed with the height of counter movement jump (CMJ). Material/Methods: In the research thermographic imaging and dynamometric platform were used. The subjects performed the CMJ test in 3 separate sessions – without any warm-up and then after preparation (1st session – jogtrot; 2nd session – jogtrot and stretching exercises; 3 session – dynamic warm up …

The Impact Of Strength Training On The Improvement Of Jumping Ability And Selected Power Parameters Of The Lower Limbs In Soccer Players, Patricia Fischerova, Magdalena Nitychoruk, Wojciech Smolka, Marcin Zak, Artur Golas, Adam Maszczyk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: The aim of the study was to compare the impact of a 6-week program combined with football training and strength training on strength and power parameters in highly trained soccer players. It was hypothesized that 6 weeks would be enough for the experimental group to improve their jumping ability and pushing power.Material and methods: The study involved 34 female footballers playing in Ekstraliga (age: 22 ± 5 years; body height: 167 ± 5 cm; body weight: 60 ± 8 kg). The contestants were divided into an experimental group and a control group of 17 people in each group. The …

Comparison Of Weightlifting, Traditional Resistance Training And Plyometrics On Strength, Power And Speed: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis, Stephanie J. Morris, Jon L. Oliver, Jason S. Pedley, G. Gregory Haff, Rhodri S. Lloyd

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background:

Weightlifting training (WLT) is commonly used to improve strength, power and speed in athletes. However, to date, WLT studies have either not compared training effects against those of other training methods, or been limited by small sample sizes, which are issues that can be resolved by pooling studies in a meta-analysis. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of WLT compared with traditional resistance training (TRT), plyometric training (PLYO) and/or control (CON) on strength, power and speed.

Methods:

The systematic review included peer-reviewed articles that employed a WLT intervention, a comparison group …

Influence Of Physical And Technical Aspects On Change Of Direction Performance Of Rugby Players: An Exploratory Study, Tomás T. Freitas, Pedro E. Alcaraz, Julio Calleja-González, Ademir F. S. Arruda, Aristide Guerriero, Valter P. Mercer, Lucas A. Pereira, Felipe P. Carpes, Michael R. Mcguigan, Irineu Loturco

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

We examined the relationships between change of direction (COD) speed and deficit, and a series of speed-and power-related measurements in national team rugby union players and analyzed the influence of movement patterns on COD ability. Eleven male athletes completed the following physical assessments on different days: day 1—anthropometric measurements, and lower-body kinematic parameters (assessed with eight inertial sensors) and completion time in COD tests (proagility, 45◦ cutting maneuver (CUT), and “L” (L-Drill)); day 2—bilateral and unilateral squat and countermovement jumps, 40 m linear sprint, and bar-power output in the jump squat and half-squat exercises. Pearson’s product–moment correlations were performed to …

Body Composition In Elite Strongman Competitors, William J. Kraemer, Lydia K. Caldwell, Emily M. Post, William H. Dupont, Emily R. Martini, Nicholas A. Ratamess, Tunde K. Szivak, Jason P. Shurley, Matthew K. Beeler, Jeff S. Volek, Carl M. Maresh, Janice S. Todd, Bryant J. Walrod, Parker N. Hyde, Ciaran Fairman, Thomas M. Best

Health and Sport Sciences Faculty Scholarship

Kraemer, WJ, Caldwell, LK, Post, EM, DuPont, WH, Martini, ER, Ratamess, NA, Szivak, TK, Shurley, JP, Beeler, MK, Volek, JS, Maresh, CM, Todd, JS, Walrod, BJ, Hyde, PN, Fairman, C, and Best, TM. Body composition in elite strongman competitors. J Strength Cond Res 34(12): 3326–3330, 2020—The purpose of this descriptive investigation was to characterize a group of elite strongman competitors to document the body composition of this unique population of strength athletes. Data were collected from eligible competitors as part of a health screening program conducted over 5 consecutive years. Imaging was acquired using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), providing total …

The Effect Of Training With Weightlifting Catching Or Pulling Derivatives On Squat Jump And Countermovement Jump Force-Time Adaptations, Timothy J. Suchomel, Shana M. Mckeever, John J. Mcmahon, Paul Comfort

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) force-time curve characteristics following 10 weeks of training with either load-matched weightlifting catching (CATCH) or pulling derivatives (PULL) or pulling derivatives that included force- and velocity-specific loading (OL). Twenty-five resistance-trained men were randomly assigned to the CATCH, PULL, or OL groups. Participants completed a 10 week, group-specific training program. SJ and …

Integrating The Functional Movement Screen ® Into Strength And Conditioning Programs, Quincy Johnson, Chantel C. Coleman, Timothy Baghurst

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

• The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS®) and how it can be integrated into strength and conditioning programs of all levels.
• We utilized current literature and previous FMS ® field experience to develop and recommend approaches for implementing FMS® protocols into strength and conditioning programs.
• Description of FMS® Movements: The FMS® is a comprehensive biomechanical efficiency screen which is comprised of seven movements that have been deemed fundamental to athletic performance (7). Those movements include the; deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight-leg raise, trunk stability push-up, and …

The Effects Of Caffeine On Early Second Half Sprint Performance In Ncaa Diii Women’S Soccer Players, David J. Granniss, Jessica W. Chow, Daniel A. Jaffe, Kristin M. Cannon, Jessica C. Brown, Deborah Vanlangen, Charity A. Byrum

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of caffeine on early second half sprint performance in 21 NCAA DIII women’s soccer players. The caffeine dosage attempted to approximate a liquid dosage many student athletes typically consume.

Design

In a randomized double blind repeated measures design, subjects began the protocol after ingestion of caplets containing 3 mg^.kg^-1 of caffeine (CAF) and after ingestion of placebo (PLA) caplets. Pre-game, warm-up, and first half conditions were designed to maximize external validity.

Methods

An adapted version of the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test was applied to replicate first …

Mean Propulsive Velocity Is A Viable Method For Adjusting The Resistance-Training Load At Moderate Altitude, Lara Rodríguez-Zamora, Paulino Padial, Brad Jon Schoenfeld, Belén Feriche

Publications and Research

We examined the viability of using mean propulsive velocity (MPV) to adjust the load in the countermovement jump (CMJ) at moderate altitude. Twenty-four volunteers were assigned to a 4-week power-oriented resistance training (R_T) program in either normoxia (N, 690m) or intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IH, 2,320m). The load was adjusted to maintain execution velocity of CMJ at 1m·s⁻¹ of MPV. Relative peak power output (P_rel), and percentage of velocity loss throughout the sets (VL) were determined for each session. The internal load was measured by the rating of perceived exertion (RPE). The absolute load lifted was …

Effects Of Neuromuscular Fatigue Resulting From Repeat Sprint Exercise Among Trained Cyclists On Measures Of Strength And Power Performance, Robert B. Blaisdell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to better understand the role of repeated-sprint ability (RSA) and resulting fatigue in cyclists; how it relates to measures of aerobic power and strength and power performance indices- due to the nature of cycling competitions and the necessity of RSA for success.

The first part of this dissertation attempted to elucidate the relationship between RSA and aerobic power and strength/ power measures in competitive cyclists. The purpose was to potentially illustrate the importance of the inclusion of strength and power training in the training regimen of cyclists. The findings showed several statistically significant relationships …

Effects Of Foam Rolling On Range Of Motion And Vertical Jump Height, Giovanna Leone, Chad Smith

Honors Theses

Static stretching has been shown to elicit an acute improvement in range of motion (ROM) in both the contralateral and ipsilateral limb. However, static stretching has also been shown to impair performance. Foam rolling has been used in clinical settings as well as by the general population to increase ROM without impairing performance. To date, there is limited research evaluating the effect of foam rolling on the contralateral limb. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the effect of foam rolling on ROM and single-leg drop jump performance in the foam rolled and non-foam rolled legs. The results …

The Impact Of Power Training On Balance And Visual Feedback Removal, Juliana Bouton

Senior Honors Theses

Because power training has been known to augment stability, the purpose of this study was to assess whether the removal of visual input affects lower limb muscle power production in young women who are resistance trained to the same degree it affects the untrained. This provided insight as far as the need for resistance training protocols in a largely untrained visually impaired population. To study this, fourteen college-aged female participants (18-23 years) performed a seated double-leg press on a leg sled machine, isolating power production of the lower limbs. After establishing baselines, which involved finding an average of power produced …

Implementing Eccentric Resistance Training—Part 2: Practical Recommendations, Timothy J. Suchomel, John P. Wagle, Jamie Douglas, Christopher B. Taber, Mellissa Harden, G. Gregory Haff

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The purpose of this review is to provide strength and conditioning practitioners with recommendations on how best to implement tempo eccentric training (TEMPO), flywheel inertial training (FIT), accentuated eccentric loading (AEL), and plyometric training (PT) into resistance training programs that seek to improve an athlete’s hypertrophy, strength, and power output. Based on the existing literature, TEMPO may be best implemented with weaker athletes to benefit positional strength and hypertrophy due to the time under tension. FIT may provide an effective hypertrophy, strength, and power stimulus for untrained and weaker individuals; however, stronger individuals may not receive the same eccentric (ECC) …

Differences In Lower Body Strength, Power Between Genders, Shonterious D. Williams

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Athletic individuals have many characteristics, which make them more elite than the average individual. When determining an individual’s physical fitness level, strength, power, and agility are commonly examined. When measuring strength, power, and agility in elite athletes the scores are compared to some portion of body composition such as muscle cross-sectional area and fat-free mass. When looking at the same factors in recreationally trained individuals the research mostly normalized to body weight. PURPOSE: To examine the differences in lower body strength, power, and agility in male and female recreationally trained individuals when normalized to body mass, fat-free mass, and …

The Influence Of Fatiguing Exercise On Power Output, Lena Kate Perry

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Physical fatigue impairs performance during high power, short duration activities. As technological developments permit new methods of measuring this effect, it is important to validate existing paradigms. The purpose was to determine if kinetic measurements from vertical jump (VJ) tests are influenced by fatigue based on explosive power outputs. A sample of athletes (9 men, 26 women) from a Division I NCAA sports program completed testing. To establish baseline VJ kinetics, athletes performed a controlled warm-up and then completed six jumps using Sparta Science technology, each separated by 15s rest. Sparta software computed three force outputs: Load, Explode and Drive. …

Foam Rolling As A Recovery Tool Following Eccentric Exercise: Potential Mechanisms Underpinning Changes In Jump Performance, Eric J. Drinkwater, Christopher Latella, Christopher Wilsmore, Stephen P. Bird, Melissa Skein

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: Recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) is paramount in sports performance. Foam rolling (FR) has been suggested to improve acute performance; however, the ability to facilitate recovery from eccentric (ECC) exercise remains unclear.

Methods: Eleven males undertook 6 × 25 ECC knee extensions to induce muscular damage. Immediately, 24, 48, and 72 h post-training countermovement jump (CMJ), maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), pressure-pain threshold (PPT), knee flexion range of motion (ROM), and mid-thigh circumference (MTC) were assessed. Neurophysiological measures included voluntary activation (VA), peak twitch torque (PTT), time to peak twitch (PTT_time), and rate of twitch torque …

Repetition-To-Repetition Differences Using Cluster And Accentuated Eccentric Loading In The Back Squat, John P. Wagle, Christopher B. Taber, Kevin M. Carroll, Aaron J. Cunanan, Matt L. Sams, Alexander Wetmore, Garett E. Bingham, Brad H. Deweese, Kimitake Sato, Charles A. Stuart, Michael H. Stone

ETSU Faculty Works

The current investigation was an examination of the repetition-to-repetition magnitudes and changes in kinetic and kinematic characteristics of the back squat using accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) and cluster sets. Trained male subjects (age = 26.1 ± 4.1 years, height = 183.5 ± 4.3 cm, body mass = 92.5 ± 10.5 kg, back squat to body mass ratio = 1.8 ± 0.3) completed four load condition sessions, each consisting of three sets of five repetitions of either traditionally loaded straight sets (TL), traditionally loaded cluster sets (TLC), AEL cluster sets (AEC), and AEL straight sets where only the initial repetition had …

Assessment Of Joint Kinetics In Elite Sprint Cyclists, Lynne Munro

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Sprint cycling requires the production of explosive muscle power outputs up to very high pedalling rates. The ability to assess muscular function through the course of the sprint would aid training practices for high-level performers. Inverse dynamics provides a non-invasive means of estimating the net muscle actions acting across any joint contributing to movement. However, analysis of joint kinetics requires motion-capture techniques that present some unique challenges for cycling. This thesis presents three studies investigating the application of a custom-designed force pedal system to examine the joint kinetics of elite trained track sprint cyclists. To provide the basis for selecting …

The Bobsled Push Start: Influence On Race Outcome And Push Athlete Talent Identification And Monitoring, Alex Harrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bobsled is an Olympic sport that has progressed from rudimentary in the 1800’s to highly technological replete with biomechanical analyses and investment in engineering from the world’s top engineers. Little to no investigation has been carried out on all the tracks and the interrelationship between various measures of starts and sled-travel down-track. Further, little quality research has been produced in the athletic characteristics required for high-level competition in bobsled.

The present manuscript investigates the reliability of, and interrelationship between, start time, start velocity, split times, and finish times in World Cup 2- and 4-man bobsled competition. A strong relationship between …

Dry Land Strength And Power Training To Enhance Swimming In-Water Turn Performance, Julian Jones

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Undertaking dry-land strength and power training to increase leg extensor power output is believed to increase a swimmer’s ability to start and turn during a swim race. Swimmers generally undertake dry-land strength and power training as part of their overall training regime to increase lower body force output and impulse, in order to improve both swim start and turning performance. Elite swimmers demonstrate faster swimming turn times that are potentially a result of having better strength-power characteristics than sub-elite swimmers. The aim of this research was to quantify differences in dry-land and swimming turn leg extensor force-time characteristics between elite …

Effects Of Short‐Term Free‐Weight And Semi‐Block Periodization Resistance Training On Metabolic Syndrome, Mark A. South, Andrew S. Layne, N. Travis Triplett, William A. Sands, Satoshi Mizuguchi, W. Guy Hornsby, Ashley Kavanaugh, Michael H. Stone

ETSU Faculty Works

The effects of short-term resistance training on performance and health variables associated with prolonged sedentary lifestyle and metabolic syndrome (MS) were investigated. Resistance training may alter a number of health-related, physiological, and performance variables. As a result, resistance training can be used as a valuable tool in ameliorating the effects of a sedentary lifestyle including those associated with MS. Nineteen previously sedentary subjects (10 with MS and 9 with nonmetabolic syndrome [NMS]) underwent 8 weeks of supervised resistance training. Maximum strength was measured using an isometric midthigh pull and resulting force-time curve. Vertical jump height (JH) and power were measured …

Training Adaptations In Lower-Body Muscle Structure And Physical Performance Capacities Of Competitive Surfing Athletes, Josh Secomb

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The overall aim of this thesis was to increase strength and conditioning coaches, and sport scientists’ understanding of the lower-body muscle structures related to enhanced lower-body physical capacities, and how to best evoke desirable training-specific adaptations. To address this aim, three successive steps of research were evaluated: (1) analysis of the factors related to increased performance in competitive surfing, (2) relationships between lower-body muscle structures and factors associated with enhanced physical performance, and (3) comparison of the training-specific adaptations evoked from various training methods. Whilst this research specifically focused on competitive surfing athletes, these results may benefit the training practices …

Lower Body Strength And Power Characteristics Influencing Change Of Direction And Straight-Line Sprinting Performance In Division I Soccer Players: An Exploratory Study, Chieh-Ying Chiang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the influence of lower body strength characteristics on change of direction (COD) performance in NCAA Division I soccer athletes. Specifically, this dissertation served to examine: 1) whether the lower body strength and power were related to COD performance, 2) whether stronger athletes had superior COD performance than weaker athletes, 3) whether the force production asymmetry and strength dominant (SD) associated with COD performance, and 4) weather sex differences existed in kinetic variables during the stand phase of cutting.

The major findings of this dissertation include: 1) strength and power characteristics were moderately …

Power And Explosiveness: First Step(S), Michael H. Stone, Kimitake Sato

ETSU Faculty Works

Power (along with Impulse) is arguably the most import characteristic for an athlete to develop. Power (particularly peak power) has strong relationships with sports performance such as lifting, throwing, sprinting, jumping and agility. Development of power is best accomplished by a progressive sequence that is characterized by successive phases that increased work capacity, muscle cross-section area, maximum strength and task specific power. Furthermore, evidence indicates that for power development, weaker athletes benefit as much or more from the development of strength through basic strength training than from power training.

Laboratory And Field-Based Correlates Of Off-Road Cycling Performance, Joshua Adams

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The aims of this study were to identify physiologic characteristics among trained off-road cyclists and correlate them with a field-based time trial to determine predictors of live performance. Fourteen trained male off-road cyclists were recruited for this study, and measured for maximum aerobic capacity (VO_2max), peak aerobic power (W_peak), maximum anaerobic power (W_max), time trial performance (sec), and climbing ability (vertical feet per second – VFS). VO_2max and W_peak were measured during an incremental cycling test to exhaustion, W_max was measured during a 30-second Wingate test and time trial, and VFS …