TY - JOUR A1 - Palma-Muñoz, Ignacio A1 - Ramírez-Campillo, Rodrigo A1 - Azocar-Gallardo, Jairo A1 - Álvarez, Cristian A1 - Asadi, Abbas A1 - Moran, Jason A1 - Chaabene, Helmi T1 - Effects of progressed and nonprogressed volume-based overload plyometric training on components of physical fitness and body composition variables in youth male basketball players JF - Journal of strength and conditioning research : the research journal of the NSCA N2 - This study examined the effect of 6 weeks of progressed and nonprogressed volume-based overload plyometric training (PT) on components of physical fitness and body composition measures in young male basketball players, compared with an active control group. Subjects were randomly assigned to a progressed PT (PPT, n = 7; age = 14.6 +/- 1.1 years), a non-PPT (NPPT, n = 8, age = 13.8 +/- 2.0 years), or a control group (CG, n = 7, age = 14.0 +/- 2.0 years). Before and after training, body composition measures (muscle mass and fat mass), countermovement jump with arms (CMJA) and countermovement jump without arms (CMJ), horizontal bilateral (HCMJ) and unilateral jump with right leg (RJ) and left leg (LJ), 20-cm drop jump (DJ20), sprint speed (10 m sprint), and change of direction speed (CODS [i.e., T-test]) were tested. Significant effects of time were observed for muscle and fat mass, all jump measures, and CODS (all p < 0.01; d = 0.37-0.83). Significant training group x time interactions were observed for all jump measures (all p < 0.05; d = 0.24-0.41). Post hoc analyses revealed significant pre-post performance improvements for the PPT (RJ and LJ: increment 18.6%, d = 0.8 and increment 22.7%, d = 0.9, respectively; HCMJ: increment 16.4%, d = 0.8; CMJ: increment 22.4%, d = 0.7; CMJA: increment 23.3%, d = 0.7; and DJ20: increment 39.7%, d = 1.1) and for the NPPT group (LJ: increment 14.1%, d = 0.4; DJ20: increment 32.9%, d = 0.8) with greater changes after PPT compared with NPPT for all jump measures (all p < 0.05; d = 0.21-0.81). The training efficiency was greater (p < 0.05; d = 0.22) after PPT (0.015% per jump) compared with NPPT (0.0053% per-jump). The PPT induced larger performance improvements on measures of physical fitness as compared to NPPT. Therefore, in-season progressive volume-based overload PT in young male basketball players is recommended. KW - stretch-shortening cycle KW - young KW - team sports KW - athletic performance KW - anthropometry Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002950 SN - 1064-8011 SN - 1533-4287 VL - 35 IS - 6 SP - 1642 EP - 1649 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Negra, Yassine A1 - Chaabene, Helmi A1 - Fernandez-Fernandez, Jaime A1 - Sammoud, Senda A1 - Bouguezzi, Raja A1 - Prieske, Olaf A1 - Granacher, Urs T1 - Short-term plyometric Jump training improves repeated-sprint ability in prepuberal male soccer players JF - Journal of strength and conditioning research : the research journal of the NSCA N2 - This study examined the effects of a short-term (i.e., 8 weeks) combined horizontal and vertical plyometric jump training (PJT) program in combination with regular soccer-specific training as compared with soccer-specific training only on jump and change of direction (CoD) performances, speed, and repeated-sprint ability (RSA) in prepuberal male soccer players. Twenty-four players were recruited and randomly assigned to either a PJT group (PJT(G); n = 13; 12.7 +/- 0.2 years) or an active control group (CONG; n = 11; 12.7 +/- 0.2 years). The outcome measures included tests for the assessment of jump performance (drop jump from 20- to 40-cm height [DJ20 and DJ40] and 3-hop test [THT]), speed (20-m sprint), CoD (T-test), and RSA (20-m repeated shuttle sprint). Data were analyzed using magnitude-based inferences. Within-group analyses revealed large performance improvements in the T-test (d = -1.2), DJ20 (d = 3.7), DJ40 (d = 3.6), THT (d = 0.6), and the RSA(total) (d = -1.6) in the PJT(G). Between-group analyses showed greater performance improvements in the T-test (d = -2.9), 20-m sprint time (d = -2.0), DJ20 (d = 2.4), DJ40 (d = 2.0), THT (d = 1.9), RSA(best) (d = -1.9), and the RSA(total) (d = -1.9) in the PJT(G) compared with CONG. Eight weeks of an in-season PJT in addition to regular soccer-specific training induced larger increases in measures of physical fitness in prepuberal male soccer players compared with regular soccer-specific training only. More specifically, PJT was effective in improving RSA performance. KW - youth KW - stretch-shortening cycle KW - athletic performance KW - soccer Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002703 SN - 1064-8011 SN - 1533-4287 VL - 34 IS - 11 SP - 3241 EP - 3249 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Saal, Christian A1 - Chaabene, Helmi A1 - Helm, Norman A1 - Warnke, Torsten A1 - Prieske, Olaf T1 - Network analysis of associations between anthropometry, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance in young canoe sprint athletes BT - The role of age and sex JF - Frontiers in sports and active living N2 - Introduction Anthropometric and physical fitness data can predict sport-specific performance (e.g., canoe sprint race time) in young athletes. Of note, inter-item correlations (i.e., multicollinearity) may exist between tests assessing similar physical qualities. However, multicollinearity among tests may change across age and/or sex due to age-/sex-specific non-linear development of test performances. Therefore, the present study aimed at analyzing inter-item correlations between anthropometric, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance data as a function of age and sex in young canoe sprint athletes. Methods Anthropometric, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance data of 618 male and 297 female young canoe sprint athletes (discipline: male/female kayak, male canoe) were recorded during a national talent identification program between 1992 and 2019. For each discipline, a correlation matrix (i.e., network analysis) was calculated for age category (U13, U14, U15, U16) and sex including anthropometrics (e.g., standing body height, body mass), physical fitness (e.g., cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle power), and sport-specific performance (i.e., 250 and 2,000-m on-water canoe sprint time). Network plots were used to explore the correlation patterns by visual inspection. Further, trimmed means (mu(trimmed)) of inter-item Pearson's correlations coefficients were calculated for each discipline, age category, and sex. Effects of age and sex were analyzed using one-way ANOVAs. Results Visual inspection revealed consistent associations among anthropometric measures across age categories, irrespective of sex. Further, associations between physical fitness and sport-specific performance were lower with increasing age, particularly in males. In this sense, statistically significant differences for mu(trimmed) were observed in male canoeists (p < 0.01, xi = 0.36) and male kayakers (p < 0.01, xi = 0.38) with lower mu(trimmed) in older compared with younger athletes (i.e., >= U15). For female kayakers, no statistically significant effect of age on mu(trimmed) was observed (p = 0.34, xi = 0.14). Discussion Our study revealed that inter-item correlation patterns (i.e., multicollinearity) of anthropometric, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance measures were lower in older (U15, U16) versus younger (U13, U14) male canoe sprint athletes but not in females. Thus, age and sex should be considered to identify predictors for sport-specific performance and design effective testing batteries for talent identification programs in canoe sprint athletes. KW - talent identification KW - youth sports [MeSH] KW - athletic performance KW - race KW - time KW - relationship KW - multicollinearity Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.1038350 SN - 2624-9367 VL - 4 PB - Frontiers Media CY - Lausanne ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hortobagyi, Tibor A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Fernandez-del-Olmo, Miguel A1 - Howatson, Glyn A1 - Manca, Andrea A1 - Deriu, Franca A1 - Taube, Wolfgang A1 - Gruber, Markus A1 - Marquez, Gonzalo A1 - Lundbye-Jensen, Jesper A1 - Colomer-Poveda, David T1 - Functional relevance of resistance training-induced neuroplasticity in health and disease JF - Neuroscience & biobehavioral reviews : official journal of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society N2 - Repetitive, monotonic, and effortful voluntary muscle contractions performed for just a few weeks, i.e., resistance training, can substantially increase maximal voluntary force in the practiced task and can also increase gross motor performance. The increase in motor performance is often accompanied by neuroplastic adaptations in the central nervous system. While historical data assigned functional relevance to such adaptations induced by resistance training, this claim has not yet been systematically and critically examined in the context of motor performance across the lifespan in health and disease. A review of muscle activation, brain and peripheral nerve stimulation, and imaging data revealed that increases in motor performance and neuroplasticity tend to be uncoupled, making a mechanistic link between neuroplasticity and motor performance inconclusive. We recommend new approaches, including causal mediation analytical and hypothesis-driven models to substantiate the functional relevance of resistance training-induced neuroplasticity in the improvements of gross motor function across the lifespan in health and disease. KW - Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) KW - strength training KW - Electromyography (EMG) KW - Transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (TMS) KW - Electroencephalography (EEG) KW - Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) KW - athletic performance KW - aging KW - Parkinson's disease KW - Multiple sclerosis KW - stroke KW - directed acyclic graphs KW - causal mediation analysis Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.019 SN - 0149-7634 SN - 1873-7528 VL - 122 SP - 79 EP - 91 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thiele, Dirk A1 - Prieske, Olaf A1 - Chaabene, Helmi A1 - Granacher, Urs T1 - Effects of strength training on physical fitness and sport-specific performance in recreational, sub-elite, and elite rowers BT - a systematic review with meta-analysis JF - Journal of sports sciences N2 - The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to examine the effects of strength training (ST) on selected components of physical fitness (e.g., lower/upper limb maximal strength, muscular endurance, jump performance, cardiorespiratory endurance) and sport-specific performance in rowers. Only studies with an active control group were included if they examined the effects of ST on at least one proxy of physical fitness and/or sport-specific performance in rowers. Weighted and averaged standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses were computed to identify effects of ST type or expertise level on sport-specific performance. Our analyses revealed significant small effects of ST on lower limb maximal strength (SMD = 0.42, p = 0.05) and on sport-specific performance (SMD = 0.32, p = 0.05). Non-significant effects were found for upper limb maximal strength, upper/lower limb muscular endurance, jump performance, and cardiorespiratory endurance. Subgroup analyses for ST type and expertise level showed non-significant differences between the respective subgroups of rowers (p >= 0.32). Our systematic review with meta-analysis indicated that ST is an effective means for improving lower limb maximal strength and sport-specific performance in rowers. However, ST-induced effects are neither modulated by ST type nor rowers' expertise level. KW - resistance training KW - plyometric training KW - on-water performance KW - race KW - time KW - oarsmen KW - athletic performance Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1745502 SN - 0264-0414 SN - 1466-447X VL - 38 IS - 10 SP - 1186 EP - 1195 PB - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group CY - Abingdon ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fernandez-Fernandez, Jaime A1 - Moya-Ramon, Manuel A1 - Santos-Rosa, Francisco Javier A1 - Gantois, Petrus A1 - Nakamura, Fabio Yuzo A1 - Sanz-Rivas, David A1 - Granacher, Urs T1 - Within-session sequence of the tennis serve training in youth elite players JF - International journal of environmental research and public health N2 - The influence of muscular fatigue on tennis serve performance within regular training sessions is unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the within-session sequence of the tennis serve in youth tennis. Twenty-five young male (14.9 +/- 0.9 years) and female (14.5 +/- 0.9 years) players participated in this within-subject crossover study, and they were randomly but sex-matched assigned to different training sequences (serve exercise before tennis training (BTS) or after tennis training (ATS)). Pre- and post-tests included serve velocity performance and accuracy, shoulder strength, and range-of-motion (ROM) performance (internal/external rotation). Results showed that after one week of serve training conducted following the ATS sequence, significant decreases were found in serve performance (e.g., speed and accuracy), with standardized differences ranging from d = 0.29 to 1.13, as well as the shoulder function (strength [d = 0.20 to 1.0] and ROM [d = 0.17 to 0.31]) in both female and male players, compared to the BTS sequence. Based on the present findings, it appears more effective to implement serve training before the regular tennis training in youth players. If applied after training, excessive levels of fatigue may cause shoulder imbalances that could be related to an increased injury risk. KW - athletes KW - athletic performance KW - fatigue KW - fitness KW - shoulder strength KW - range of motion Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18010244 SN - 1660-4601 VL - 18 IS - 1 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gäbler, Martijn A1 - Berberyan, Hermine S. A1 - Prieske, Olaf A1 - Elferink-Gemser, Marije Titia A1 - Hortobágyi, Tibor A1 - Warnke, Torsten A1 - Granacher, Urs T1 - Strength Training Intensity and Volume Affect Performance of Young Kayakers/Canoeists JF - Frontiers in physiology N2 - Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of moderate intensity, low volume (MILV) vs. low intensity, high volume (LIHV) strength training on sport-specific performance, measures of muscular fitness, and skeletal muscle mass in young kayakers and canoeists. Methods: Semi-elite young kayakers and canoeists (N = 40, 13 ± 0.8 years, 11 girls) performed either MILV (70–80% 1-RM, 6–12 repetitions per set) or LIHV (30–40% 1-RM, 60–120 repetitions per set) strength training for one season. Linear mixed-effects models were used to compare effects of training condition on changes over time in 250 and 2,000 m time trials, handgrip strength, underhand shot throw, average bench pull power over 2 min, and skeletal muscle mass. Both between- and within-subject designs were used for analysis. An alpha of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Results: Between- and within-subject analyses showed that monthly changes were greater in LIHV vs. MILV for the 2,000 m time trial (between: 9.16 s, SE = 2.70, p < 0.01; within: 2,000 m: 13.90 s, SE = 5.02, p = 0.01) and bench pull average power (between: 0.021 W⋅kg–1, SE = 0.008, p = 0.02; within: 0.010 W⋅kg–1, SE = 0.009, p > 0.05). Training conditions did not affect other outcomes. Conclusion: Young sprint kayakers and canoeists benefit from LIHV more than MILV strength training in terms of 2,000 m performance and muscular endurance (i.e., 2 min bench pull power). KW - youth sports KW - water sports KW - exercise test KW - athletic performance KW - anthropometry Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.686744 SN - 1664-042X VL - 12 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne, Schweiz ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fernandez-Fernandez, Jaime A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Sanz-Rivas, David A1 - Sarabia Marin, Jose Manuel A1 - Luis Hernandez-Davo, Jose A1 - Moya, Manuel T1 - Sequencing Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Physical Fitness in Youth Elite Tennis Players JF - Journal of strength and conditioning research : the research journal of the NSCA N2 - Fernandez-Fernandez, J, Granacher, U, Sanz-Rivas, D, Sarabia Marin, JM, Hernandez-Davo, JL, and Moya, M. Sequencing effects of neuromuscular training on physical fitness in youth elite tennis players. J Strength Cond Res 32(3): 849-856, 2018-The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a 5-week neuromuscular training (NMT) implemented before or after a tennis session in prepubertal players on selected components of physical fitness. Sixteen high-level tennis players with a mean age of 12.9 +/- 0.4 years participated in this study, and were assigned to either a training group performing NMT before tennis-specific training (BT; n = 8) or a group that conducted NMT after tennis-specific training (AT; n = 8). Pretest and posttest included: speed (5, 10, and 20 m); modified 5-0-5 agility test; countermovement jump (CMJ); overhead medicine ball throw (MBT); and serve velocity (SV). Results showed that the BT group achieved positive effects from pretest to posttest measures in speed (d = 0.52, 0.32, and 1.08 for 5, 10, and 20 m respectively), 5-0-5 (d = 0.22), CMJ (d = 0.29), MBT (d = 0.51), and SV (d = 0.32), whereas trivial (10 m, 20 m, CMJ, SV, and MBT) or negative effects (d = -0.19 and -0.24 for 5 m and 5-0-5, respectively) were reported for the AT group. The inclusion of an NMT session before the regular tennis training led to positive effects from pretest to posttest measures in performance-related variables (i.e., jump, sprint, change of direction capacity, as well as upper-body power), whereas conducting the same exercise sessions after the regular tennis training was not accompanied by the same improvements. KW - athletic performance KW - intermittent sport KW - plyometrics KW - speed KW - change of direction Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002319 SN - 1064-8011 SN - 1533-4287 VL - 32 IS - 3 SP - 849 EP - 856 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - GEN A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Puta, Christian A1 - Gabriel, Holger H. W. A1 - Behm, David George A1 - Arampatzis, Adamantios T1 - Neuromuscular Training and Adaptations in Youth Athletes T2 - Frontiers in physiology KW - strength training KW - plyometric training KW - physical fitness KW - injury prevention KW - athletic performance Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01264 SN - 1664-042X VL - 9 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Negra, Yassine A1 - Chaabene, Helmi A1 - Sammoud, Senda A1 - Bouguezzi, Raja A1 - Abbes, Mohamed Aymen A1 - Hachana, Younes A1 - Granacher, Urs T1 - Effects of Plyometric Training on Physical Fitness in Prepuberal Soccer Athletes JF - International journal of sports medicine N2 - This study aimed at examining the effects of plyometric training on stable (SPT) vs. unstable (UPT) surfaces on physical fitness in prepuberal soccer players. Male athletes were randomly assigned to SPT (n = 18; age = 12.7 +/- 0.2 years) or UPT (n = 16; age = 12.2 +/- 0.5 years). Both groups conducted 3 regular soccer training sessions per week combined with either 2 SPT or UPT sessions. Assessment of jumping ability (countermovement jump [CMJ], and standing long jump [SLJ]), speed (10-m, 20-m, 30-m sprint), agility (Illinois agility test [IAT]), and balance (stable [SSBT], unstable [USBT] stork balance test; stable [SYBT], unstable [UYBT] Y balance test) was conducted pre-and post-training. An ANCO-VA model was used to test for between-group differences (SPT vs. UPT) at post-test using baseline values as covariates. No significant differences were found for CMJ height (p > 0.05, d = 0.54), SLJ (p > 0.05; d = 0.81), 10-m, 20-m, and 30-m sprint performances (p > 0.05, d = 0.00-0.24), IAT (p > 0.05, d = 0.48), and dynamic balance (SYBT and UYBT, both p > 0.05, d = 0.39, 0.08, respectively). Statistically significant between-group differences were detected for the USBT (p < 0.01, d = 1.86) and the SSBT (p < 0.01, d = 1.75) in favor of UPT. Following 8 weeks of SPT or UPT in prepuberal athletes, similar performance levels were observed in both groups for measures of jumping ability, speed, dynamic balance, and agility. However, if the goal is to additionally enhance static balance, UPT has an advantage over SPT. KW - youth KW - balance KW - jumping ability KW - athletic performance KW - football Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-122337 SN - 0172-4622 SN - 1439-3964 VL - 38 SP - 370 EP - 377 PB - Thieme CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Negra, Yassine A1 - Chaabene, Helmi A1 - Sammoud, Senda A1 - Bouguezzi, Raja A1 - Mkaouer, Bessem A1 - Hachana, Younes A1 - Granacher, Urs T1 - EFFECTS OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON COMPONENTS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS IN PREPUBERAL MALE SOCCER ATHLETES: THE ROLE OF SURFACE INSTABILITY JF - Journal of strength and conditioning research : the research journal of the NSCA N2 - Previous studies contrasted the effects of plyometric training (PT) conducted on stable vs. unstable surfaces on components of physical fitness in child and adolescent soccer players. Depending on the training modality (stable vs. unstable), specific performance improvements were found for jump (stable PT) and balance performances (unstable PT). In an attempt to combine the effects of both training modalities, this study examined the effects of PT on stable surfaces compared with combined PT on stable and unstable surfaces on components of physical fitness in prepuberal male soccer athletes. Thirty-three boys were randomly assigned to either a PT on stable surfaces (PTS; n = 17; age = 12.1 +/- 0.5 years; height = 151.6 +/- 5.7 cm; body mass = 39.2 +/- 6.5 kg; and maturity offset = 22.3 +/- 0.5 years) or a combined PT on stable and unstable surfaces (PTC; n = 16; age = 12.2 +/- 0.6 years; height = 154.6 +/- 8.1 cm; body mass = 38.7 +/- 5.0 kg; and maturity offset = 22.2 +/- 0.6 years). Both intervention groups conducted 4 soccer-specific training sessions per week combined with either 2 PTS or PTC sessions. Before and after 8 weeks of training, proxies of muscle power (e.g., countermovement jump [CMJ], standing long jump [SLJ]), muscle strength (e.g., reactive strength index [RSI]), speed (e.g., 20-m sprint test), agility (e.g., modified Illinois change of direction test [MICODT]), static balance (e.g., stable stork bal-ance test [SSBT]), and dynamic balance (unstable stork balance test [USBT]) were tested. An analysis of covariance model was used to test between-group differences (PTS vs. PTC) at posttest using baseline outcomes as covariates. No significant between-group differences at posttest were observed for CMJ (p > 0.05, d = 0.41), SLJ (p > 0.05, d = 0.36), RSI (p > 0.05, d = 0.57), 20-m sprint test (p > 0.05, d = 0.06), MICODT (p > 0.05, d = 0.23), and SSBT (p > 0.05, d = 0.20). However, statistically significant between-group differences at posttest were noted for the USBT (p < 0.01, d = 1.49) in favor of the PTC group. For most physical fitness tests (except RSI), significant pre-to-post improvements were observed for both groups (p < 0.01, d = 0.55-3.96). Eight weeks of PTS or PTC resulted in similar performance improvements in components of physical fitness except for dynamic balance. From a performance-enhancing perspective, PTC is recommended for pediatric strength and conditioning coaches because it produced comparable training effects as PTS on proxies of muscle power, muscle strength, speed, agility, static balance, and additional effects on dynamic balance. KW - youth KW - football KW - stretch-shortening cycle KW - athletic performance KW - balance Y1 - 2017 SN - 1064-8011 SN - 1533-4287 VL - 31 SP - 3295 EP - 3304 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER -