Abstract
The purpose was to examine the effect of prior performance of dumbbell lateral squats (DBLS) on an agility movement-into-a-sprint (AMS) test. Twelve collegiate, resistance-trained, baseball athletes participated in three sessions separated by three days. Session One consisted of AMS baseline test, DBLS 5-RM test, and experimental protocol familiarization. Subjects were randomly assigned the protocol order for Sessions Two and Three, which consisted of warm up followed by 1-min sitting (no-DBLS) or performing the DBLS for 1 × 5 repetitions @ 5RM for each leg. Four minutes of slow recovery walking preceded the AMS test, which consisted of leading off a base and waiting for a visual stimulus. In reaction to stimulus, subjects exerted maximal effort while moving to the right by either pivoting or drop stepping and sprinting for 10 yards (yd). In Session Three, subjects switched protocols (DBLS, no-DBLS). Foot contact time (FCT), stride frequency (SF), stride length (SL), and 10-yd sprint time were measured. There were no differences between conditions for FCT, SF, or SL. Differences existed between DBLS (1.85 ± 0.09 s) and no-DBLS (1.89 ± 0.10 s) for AMS (p = 0.03). Results from the current study support the use of DBLS for performance enhancement prior to performing the AMS test.
Highlights
Acute performance enhancement found in power movements following a conditioning contraction exercise, such as a heavily loaded resistance exercise or maximal voluntary contractions (MVC), is likely due to post-activation potentiation (PAP) [10,11,12,13,14], which is defined as an increase in muscle function following a preload stimulus [7]
There was no significant interaction between the dumbbell lateral squats (DBLS) and no-DBLS conditions for Foot contact time (FCT) (p = 0.70), stride frequency (SF) (p = 0.28), or stride length (SL) (p = 0.79) (Table 2)
A significant difference existed between conditions for the AMS test for Segment 1 time (ES = 0.61, p = 0.01, DBLS: 1.11 ̆ 0.06 s; no-DBLS: 1.15 ̆ 0.07 s), and total time (ES = 0.42, p = 0.03, DBLS: 1.85 ̆ 0.09 s; no-DBLS: 1.89 ̆ 0.10 s)
Summary
The importance of lower body muscular power to performance in sporting activities is well documented [1,2,3] training techniques designed to improve lower body power are of interest, and methods such as plyometrics and complex training are commonly employed [4,5,6].These training methods utilize exercises similar to the movements of sporting activity in order to provide sport specific enhancements and improve power development.The response of skeletal muscle to specific stimuli is a function of the prior contraction history [7].Complex training, a method that involves performing a moderate to heavy resistance exercise as a conditioning contraction followed by a lighter-resistance ballistic activity, has been shown to elicit greater lower body power production in subsequent explosive movements [8,9]. The importance of lower body muscular power to performance in sporting activities is well documented [1,2,3] training techniques designed to improve lower body power are of interest, and methods such as plyometrics and complex training are commonly employed [4,5,6]. These training methods utilize exercises similar to the movements of sporting activity in order to provide sport specific enhancements and improve power development. It may be for this reason that the Sports 2016, 4, 19; doi:10.3390/sports4010019 www.mdpi.com/journal/sports
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