Abstract
Background: High-intensity muscle actions have the potential to temporarily improve the performance which has been denoted as postactivation performance enhancement.Objectives: This study determined the acute effects of different stretch-shortening (fast vs. low) and strength (dynamic vs. isometric) exercises executed during one training session on subsequent balance performance in youth weightlifters.Materials and Methods: Sixteen male and female young weightlifters, aged 11.3±0.6years, performed four strength exercise conditions in randomized order, including dynamic strength (DYN; 3 sets of 3 repetitions of 10 RM) and isometric strength exercises (ISOM; 3 sets of maintaining 3s of 10 RM of back-squat), as well as fast (FSSC; 3 sets of 3 repetitions of 20-cm drop-jumps) and slow (SSSC; 3 sets of 3 hurdle jumps over a 20-cm obstacle) stretch-shortening cycle protocols. Balance performance was tested before and after each of the four exercise conditions in bipedal stance on an unstable surface (i.e., BOSU ball with flat side facing up) using two dependent variables, i.e., center of pressure surface area (CoP SA) and velocity (CoP V).Results: There was a significant effect of time on CoP SA and CoP V [F(1,60)=54.37, d=1.88, p<0.0001; F(1,60)=9.07, d=0.77, p=0.003]. In addition, a statistically significant effect of condition on CoP SA and CoP V [F(3,60)=11.81, d=1.53, p<0.0001; F(3,60)=7.36, d=1.21, p=0.0003] was observed. Statistically significant condition-by-time interactions were found for the balance parameters CoP SA (p<0.003, d=0.54) and CoP V (p<0.002, d=0.70). Specific to contrast analysis, all specified hypotheses were tested and demonstrated that FSSC yielded significantly greater improvements than all other conditions in CoP SA and CoP V [p<0.0001 (d=1.55); p=0.0004 (d=1.19), respectively]. In addition, FSSC yielded significantly greater improvements compared with the two conditions for both balance parameters [p<0.0001 (d=2.03); p<0.0001 (d=1.45)].Conclusion: Fast stretch-shortening cycle exercises appear to be more effective to improve short-term balance performance in young weightlifters. Due to the importance of balance for overall competitive achievement in weightlifting, it is recommended that young weightlifters implement dynamic plyometric exercises in the fast stretch-shortening cycle during the warm-up to improve their balance performance.
Highlights
Weightlifting is a sport that involves lifting the heaviest possible weight during two events: the snatch, and the clean and jerk lifts
A paired t-test showed no significant differences between the scores recorded during the two trials for all measured variables
Athletes could for instance stand on a force plate while performing the snatch, and clean and jerk
Summary
Weightlifting is a sport that involves lifting the heaviest possible weight during two events: the snatch, and the clean and jerk lifts Both lifts are powerful movements requiring the ability to produce high levels of muscle strength and power (Pearson et al, 2002; Stone et al, 2005) while maintaining balance over a small base of support, i.e., feet (Riemann et al, 2020). For young weightlifters, balance capacity plays a critical role in their performance due to the need to control heavy weights above head height for at least a couple of seconds with their arms in fully extended position (Kang et al, 2013) In this context, investigators involved in this sport recommend to implement balance training in weightlifters’ training routines to improve balance performance which is a prerequisite for sport-specific performance (Kang et al, 2013). High-intensity muscle actions have the potential to temporarily improve the performance which has been denoted as postactivation performance enhancement
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