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Effects of power training on muscle structure and neuromuscular performance
Author(s) -
Kyröläinen H.,
Avela J.,
McBride J. M.,
Koskinen S.,
Andersen J. L.,
Sipilä S.,
Takala T. E. S.,
Komi P. V.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2004.00390.x
Subject(s) - isometric exercise , electromyography , jumping , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , jump , vertical jump , concentric , gastrocnemius muscle , myosin , strength training , physical therapy , anatomy , mathematics , skeletal muscle , chemistry , physics , physiology , biochemistry , geometry , quantum mechanics
The present study examines changes in muscle structure and neuromuscular performance induced by 15 weeks of power training with explosive muscle actions. Twenty‐three subjects, including 10 controls, volunteered for the study. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the gastrocnemius muscle before and after the training period, while maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) and drop jump tests were performed once every fifth week. No statistically significant improvements in MVC of the knee extensor (KE) and plantarflexor muscles were observed during the training period. However, the maximal rate of force development (RFD) of KE increased from 18 836±4282 to 25 443±8897 N ( P <0.05) during the first 10 weeks of training. In addition, vertical jump height (vertical rise of the center of body mass) in the drop jump test increased significantly ( P <0.01). Simultaneously, explosive force production of KE muscles measured as knee moment and power increased significantly; however, there was no significant change ( P >0.05) in muscle activity (electromyography) of KE. The mean percentage for myosin heavy chain and titin isoforms, muscle fiber‐type distributions and areas were unchanged. The enhanced performance in jumping as a result of power training can be explained, in part, by some modification in the joint control strategy and/or increased RFD capabilities of the KE.