european college of sport science

14:15 - 15:15
Poster presentations
PP-TT08 Training and Testing 8
PP-TT08 Training and Testing 8
THE EFFECTS OF A SHORT-TERM ISOMETRIC TRAINING PROGRAM ON THE NEUROMUSCULAR FUNCTION OF ELITE
GREEK JUMPERS AND LONG DISTANCE RUNNERS
PATIKAS, D., PARASCHOS, I., BASSA, E., GALAZOULAS, C., SKOUFAS, D., KOTZAMANIDIS, C.
ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI, GREECE
Introduction: The improvement of performance in track and field sports requires specific training, depending on the features of the event.
Rate of force development (RFD) is crucial for jumpers, whereas long distance runners’ RFD is expected as less developed. Short-term
effects of training may influence performance. However, it is still unknown how such athletes respond to a short-term training protocol.
The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of a two days strength training protocol on the neuromuscular function and especially
on the RFD of the plantar flexor muscles in elite jumpers and long distance runners.
Methods: Two groups of elite Greek track field jumpers (n=9, age: 24.8±3.1 years, height: 182.3±7.4 cm, body mass: 74.3±2.7 kg) and
long distance runners (n=9, age: 22.1±2.8 years, height: 177.9±6.7 cm, body mass: 64.8±7.3 kg) participated in the study. The participants
were tested 48 h before and after an isometric, ballistic type, strength training protocol consisted of 2 sessions with 48 hours interval
in between. Testing and training were conducted on the plantar flexor muscles of the ankle. Torque and EMG amplitude as well as
frequency component using spike analysis for the gastrocnemius, soleus and tibialis anterior were measured during the maximal voluntary
contraction. Additionally, the maximal M-wave (Mmax) and the twitch torque properties were measured after a supramaximal
electrical nerve stimulation over the tibial nerve.
Results: Maximal voluntary isometric torque remained unchanged, while, the voluntary maximal RFD recorded 100 ms after the onset of
contraction improved in the long distance runners only. This was accompanied by an increase in the gastrocnemius EMG frequency as
well.
The peak twitch torque, contraction time, half relaxation time and Mmax remained unchanged in both groups. However, before training
jumpers presented higher twitch torque, shorter contraction time and shorter half relaxation time, compared to the values of the long
distance runners.
Discussion: Our findings indicate that RFD is enhanced after 2 sessions of strength training program, with no parallel increase in maximal
strength, only in persons with low level of strength (Blazevitz et al., 2008). Considering the examined muscles, it seems that such adaptations
are evident in muscles with larger proportion of fast motor units, such as gastrocnemius (Paasuke et al., 1999). This supports the
notion that spinal and supraspinal centers may contribute to the adaptations observed after a short-term, ballistic, isometric training.
Reference
Blazevich A, Horne S, Cannavan D, Coleman D, Aagaard P. (2008). Muscle & Nerve, 38(3), 1133-1046.
Paasuke M, Ereline J, Gapeyeva H. (1999). Eur J Appl Physiol, 80(5), 448-451.
THE EFFECT OF HIGH VS. LOW INTENSITY TRAINING ON AEROBIC CAPACITY IN WELL TRAINED MALE MIDDLE- DIS-
TANCE RUNNERS
ENOKSEN, E., TØNNESSEN, E., SHALFAWI, S.
1. NORWEGIAN SCHOOL OF SPORT SCIENCES, 2. BODØ UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
Introduction: Research show that the inter-individual variance and strongest predictors of middle- and long-distance running performance
depend on; VO2max, % of VO2max, VO2max velocity, running economy (RE), lactate threshold (LT) and LT velocity (Saltin et al. 1995;
Bassett, and Howley 2000; di Prampero 2003). A review of literature show that the development of training methods have traditionally
been based on short-term studies among untrained or moderate trained individuals coupled with anecdotal evidence from experienced
coaches and successful athletes. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of two different intervention
training regimes on VO2max, VO2max velocity, RE, LT velocity and running performance on a group of well-trained male middle-distance
runners. Methods: Twenty-six well-trained male middle-distance runners participated in the present study. The subjects were all highly
committed to training, running 90 ± 14 km per week. All participants were tested on VO2max, VO2max velocity, RE, LT, LT velocity and a
performance test on treadmill. The participants were matched according to their pre-test results, then randomly assigned into one of two
groups, a high volume (60 km) low intensity training group (HVLI-group); and a high-intensity low volume (40 km) training group (HILVgroup).
The training volume and distribution of intensity in the intervention period (10 weeks) was by performing 33 % of the total workout
at 82-92 % of HR max and 67 % performed at 65-82 % of HR max for the HILV-group, and 13 % of the total workout at 82-92 % of HR max
and 87 % was performed at 65-82 % HR max for the HVLI-group. Results: No marked differences were found between groups in all
measures made in this study. Furthermore, the HILV-group had a marked increased in VO2max velocity and LT velocity after the training
period when compared to pre-test. Both groups had a marked improvement in RE. The performance test showed that the HILV-group
made 456 m (1.38 min) and the HVLI-group 273 m (54 sec) in progress. The production of lactic acid (La) was notably higher in the HILV-
group (0.9 mmol) when compared to pre-test. Conclusion: The findings in this study show that male middle-distance runners improves in
VO2max velocity and LT velocity better when they train around anaerobic threshold than training with low intensity for a short period of 10
weeks.
Reference:
Bassett, D. R., Jr., and E. T. Howley. 2000. Limiting factors for maximum oxygen uptake and determinants of endurance performance.
Med Sci Sports Exerc 32 (1): 70-84.
Di Prampero, P. E. 2003. Factors limiting maximal performance in humans. European Journal of Applied Physiology 90 (3-4): 420-429.
Saltin, B., H. Larsen, N. Terrados, J. Bangsbo, T. Bak, C. K. Kim, J. Svedenhag, and C. J. Rolf. 1995. Aerobic exercise capacity at sea level
and at altitude in Kenyan boys, junior and senior runners compared with Scandinavian runners. Scand J Med Sci Sports 5 (4): 209-221.
430 14 TH
ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF SPORT SCIENCE