Abstract
Monitoring tests are commonly used to assess weightlifter’s preparedness for competition. Although various monitoring tests have been used, it is not clear which test is the strongest indicator of weightlifting performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to (1) determine the relationships between vertical jump, isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) and weightlifting performance; and (2) compare vertical jumps to IMTP as monitoring tests of weightlifting performance in a large cohort of male and female weightlifters. Methods: Fifty-two competitive weightlifters (31 males, 21 females) participated in squat and countermovement jump testing (SJ, CMJ), and IMTP testing performed on force plates. All laboratory testing data was correlated to a recent competition where the athletes had attempted to peak. Results: Squat jump height (SJH) was the strongest correlate for men and women with the Sinclair Total (r = 0.686, p ≤ 0.01; r = 0.487, p ≤ 0.05, respectively) compared to countermovement jump height (r = 0.642, p ≤ 0.01; r = 0.413, p = 0.063), IMTP peak force allometrically scaled to body mass (r = 0.542, p ≤ 0.01; r = −0.044, p = 0.851) and rate of force development at 200 ms (r = 0.066, p = 0.723; r = 0.086, p = 0.711), respectively. Further, SJH was a stronger correlate of relative weightlifting performance compared to IMTP peak force in females (p = 0.042), but not male weightlifters (p = 0.191). Conclusions: Although CMJ and IMTP are still considered strong indicators of weightlifting performance, SJH appears to be the most indicative measure of weightlifting performance across a wide-range of performance levels. Thus, SJH can be used as a reliable measure to monitor weightlifting performance in male and female weightlifters.
Highlights
In weightlifting, as in any sport, monitoring and assessing an athlete’s ability to recover and adapt is vital to ensure the athlete is prepared for competition [1]
While 1-repetition maximum tests are often considered the gold-standard for assessing maximal strength, it is impractical for weightlifters to regularly perform a 1-repetition maximum snatch or clean and jerk in training
A moderate relationship was found between isometric peak force (IPF) and the competition total (r = 0.495, p < 0.001), while strong relationships were found between IPFa and both the competition total (r = 0.571, p < 0.001)
Summary
As in any sport, monitoring and assessing an athlete’s ability to recover and adapt is vital to ensure the athlete is prepared for competition [1]. While 1-repetition maximum tests are often considered the gold-standard for assessing maximal strength, it is impractical for weightlifters to regularly perform a 1-repetition maximum snatch or clean and jerk in training. Dynamic and isometric multi-joint performance tests have commonly been used to monitor and evaluate weightlifters [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15]. Vertical jumps have been widely used to evaluate general athletic ability [16] and are biomechanically similar to weightlifting movements [8,9,10]. Strong relationships between squat jump and countermovement jump (SJ, CMJ) along with snatch and clean and jerk performance scaled to Sports 2018, 6, 46; doi:10.3390/sports6020046 www.mdpi.com/journal/sports
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
