Effects of a 25-Week Periodized Training Macrocycle on Muscle Strength, Power, Muscle Architecture, and Performance in Well-Trained Track and Field Throwers

Kinematic Diagnosis of Throwing Motion of the Chinese Elite Female Discus Athletes Who Are Preparing for the Tokyo Olympic Games

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference of kinematic skill characteristics between the Chinese and world elite female discus athletes. We used the methods of literature, three-dimensional video analysis, and mathematical statistics to compare and analyze the differences of some kinematic parameters between the three Chinese female discus athletes and four world female discus athletes. The result shows that the speed of discus release of the Chinese elite female discus athletes is lower (p < 0.05) than that of the world elite female discus athletes. Compared to the world elite female discus athletes, the height of release is higher (p < 0.05). But there was no significant difference in the angle of release (p > 0.05), rotation rhythm (p > 0.05), and discus speed increment (p > 0.05) in different stages during the throwing procedure from double support stage to delivery stage. The results may provide reference for the special technique training of the Chinese female discus throwers, so as to improve the discus throwing level of Chinese women.

Effects of Complex Vs. Compound Training on Competitive Throwing Performance

ABSTRACT

Thomas, K, Spyridon, M, Nikolaos, Z, Angeliki-Nikolleta, S, Giorgos, K, Giorgos, G, and Gerasimos, T. Effects of complex vs. compound training on competitive throwing performance. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2022-The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of complex (CPX; strength and power exercises in pairs) vs. compound (CPD; strength and power exercises in different days) training on competitive track and field throwing performance. Ten well-trained throwers (7 male throwers and 3 female throwers) followed a 34-week periodized training program including 2 preparation periods. During the winter 4-week, precompetition phase, athletes were randomly assigned to CPX or CPD groups, while the opposite assignment was performed during the spring precompetition phase (counterbalanced design). Before and after each training period competitive track and field throwing performance, shot put throws, snatch, squat and bench press 1 repetition maximum (1RM), vertical jumps, rate of force development (RFD), and body composition were evaluated. Competitive track and field throwing performance increased significantly by 5.4 ± 2.9% and 1.9 ± 1.7%, after CPX and CPD, respectively, with a significant difference between groups (p < 0.001). Shot put throws and 1RM strength in bench press increased similarly after both programs (p < 0.05), but vertical jumps increased only after CPX training. CPX induced greater increases in 1RM strength in snatch and squat, RFD, and lean body mass compared with CPD (p < 0.005). The linear combination of training-induced changes in RFD 150ms, 1RM in squat, snatch, and total lean mass explained the 80% of the percentage increase in competitive track and field throwing performance (p = 0.007). These results suggest that 4 weeks of CPX training during the precompetition period induce greater increases in competitive track and field throwing performance, 1RM strength, power, and RFD compared with CPD training.

Technical Diagnosis on Elite Female Discus Athletes Based on Grey Relational Analysis

The personalized training of elite athletes is the key to the breakthrough of Chinese track and field events in the Tokyo Olympic Games. The brilliance of Chinese women's throwing benefits from the closed-loop personalized training system. Training starts from the construction of accurate personalized technology and physical fitness model. This paper introduces the concept of champion model and puts forward a targeted technical training system based on the differentiation research of champion model. This paper mainly studies and analyzes some important technical parameters and achievements of elite female discus athletes aged 2018∼2021 by using the methods of Pearson, partial correlation and grey correlation analysis. We select from several technical parameters with significant differences, choose from several technical parameters that have significant difference, and calculate the correlation parameters and results. The results show that the influence degree of these technical parameters is as follows: torso angle of right foot touching the ground, discus release angle, discus release speed, shoulder and arm passing angle of left foot off the ground, discus moving distance of double support, center of mass moving distance of double support, and time of the second single support stage. This is different from our view that the hand speed is the most important, so the training of elite athletes should be more refined and specialized to promote the improvement of their performance. Through the application of technical diagnosis model in Chen Yang in a period of time, Chen Yang got her best result (65.14 m) in Chongqing Athletics Championship, which verified the success of the technical diagnosis model and application in this study.

The Effects of Resistance Training on Architecture and Volume of the Upper Extremity Muscles: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials and Meta-Analyses

To systematically review the effects of exercise on fascicle geometry and muscle size parameters of the upper extremity muscles, the CENTRAL, CINAHL, PubMed and OpenGrey databases were searched on 31 July 2021. Finally, 17 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this systematic review. High-intensity bench press training (g = 1.03) and 12 RM bench press exercises (g = 1.21) showed a large effect size on increasing pectoralis major muscle size. In the elbow extensors, large effects were reported for an increase in muscle size with isometric maximal voluntary co-contraction training (g = 1.97), lying triceps extension exercise (g = 1.25), and nonlinear periodised resistance training (g = 2.07). In addition, further large effects were achieved in the elbow flexors via traditional elbow flexion exercises (g = 0.93), concentric low-load forearm flexion-extension training (g = 0.94, g = 1), isometric maximal voluntary co-contraction training (g = 1.01), concentric low-load forearm flexion-extension training with blood flow restriction (g = 1.02, g = 1.07), and nonlinear periodised resistance training (g = 1.13, g = 1.34). Regarding the forearm muscles, isometric ulnar deviation training showed a large effect (g = 2.22) on increasing the flexor carpi ulnaris and radialis muscle size. Results show that these training modalities are suitable for gaining hypertrophy in the relevant muscles with at least four weeks of training duration. Future RCTs should investigate the effects of exercise modalities on the triceps brachii fascicle geometry, the infraspinatus muscle thickness (MT) and the subscapular MT due to their associations with sports performance.