Comparison Between the Effects of Combining Elastic and Free-Weight Resistance and Free-Weight Resistance on Force and Power Production

Abstract

Paditsaeree, K, Intiraporn, C, and Lawsirirat, C. Comparison between the effects of combining elastic and free-weight resistance and free-weight resistance on force and power production. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2713-2722, 2016-Elastic tubing attached to a barbell has been reported to enhance strength and power to a greater extent as compared with conventional barbells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the additional elastic tubing to a barbell during a clean pull on peak power (PP), peak velocity (PV), and peak force (PF). Six competitive female weightlifters (mean age, 16.7 ± 2.1 years) performed 3 sets of 3 repetitions of the clean pull at 90% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM). Testing was conducted on 3 separate days: day 1 without elastic tubing (no tubing [NT]) and the other 2 days with 2 elastic tubing loading conditions (T10 and T20), in random order. No tubing represents a condition where all resistance was acquired from the barbell (90% of 1RM). T10 and T20 represent conditions of combining elastic tubing at 10 and 20% of the subjects' 90% 1RM with a barbell (90% of 1RM). One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess loading conditions on PP, PV, and PF. The results showed that there was a significant increase in all variables-PP, PF, and PV-between T10 and NT and between T20 and NT (p ≤ 0.05). The results revealed that adding a 10% increment to 90% of 1RM seems to be the optimal training condition for increasing power, force, and velocity during the clean pull.