Competitive Powerlifters Research Articles

To what extent does sexual dimorphism exist in competitive powerlifters?

We examined sexual dimorphism in the anthropometry of 68 Australasian and Pacific powerlifters (14 females, 54 males) who were competing in one of two national or international powerlifting competitions held in New Zealand. All powerlifters were assessed for 37 anthropometric dimensions by ISAK (International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry) Level II and III accredited anthropometrists. While the powerlifters were highly mesomorphic and possessed large girths and bone breadths, both in absolute terms and when expressed as Z p-scores compared through the Phantom (Ross & Wilson, 1974), these characteristics were often more pronounced in male than female lifters. No significant inter-gender differences in any of the measures of adiposity were observed. When normalized through the Phantom, the female and male powerlifters had relatively similar segment lengths and bone breadths, indicating that regardless of gender, competitive powerlifters possess comparable skeletal proportions. These results indicate that although competitive powerlifters exhibit sexual dimorphism for many absolute anthropometric measures, little dimorphism is found for measures of adiposity and for proportional segment lengths and bone breadths. These results further support the importance of anthropometric profiling for powerlifting, and suggest that successful male and female powerlifters will possess similar proportional characteristics.

Anthropometric dimensions of male powerlifters of varying body mass

In this study, we examined the anthropometric dimensions of powerlifters across various body mass (competitive bodyweight) categories. Fifty-four male Oceania competitive powerlifters (9 lightweight, 30 middleweight, and 15 heavyweight) were recruited from one international and two national powerlifting competitions held in New Zealand. Powerlifters were assessed for 37 anthropometric dimensions by ISAK (International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry) level II and III accredited anthropometrists. The powerlifters were highly mesomorphic and had large girths and bony breadths, both in absolute units and when expressed as Zp-scores compared through the Phantom (Ross & Wilson, 1974). These anthropometric characteristics were more pronounced in heavyweights, who were significantly heavier, had greater muscle and fat mass, were more endo-mesomorphic, and had larger girths and bony breadths than the lighter lifters. Although middleweight and heavyweight lifters typically had longer segment lengths than the lightweights, all three groups had similar Zp-scores for the segment lengths, indicating similar segment length proportions. While population comparisons would be required to identify any connection between specific anthropometric dimensions that confer a competitive advantage to the expression of maximal strength, anthropometric profiling may prove useful for talent identification and for the assessment of training progression in powerlifting.

Effect of 1 RM on the Cardiovascular Responses of Competitive Collegiate Powerlifters

Effect of 1 RM on the Cardiovascular Responses of Competitive Collegiate Powerlifters

Retrospective Injury Epidemiology of One Hundred One Competitive Oceania Power Lifters: The Effects of Age, Body Mass, Competitive Standard, and Gender

The injury epidemiology of competitive power lifters was investigated to provide a basis for injury prevention initiatives in power lifting. Self-reported retrospective injury data for 1 year and selected biographical and training information were obtained via a 4-page injury survey from 82 men and 19 women of varying ages (Open and Masters), body masses (lightweight and heavyweight), and competitive standards (national and international). Injury was defined as any physical damage to the body that caused the lifter to miss or modify one or more training sessions or miss a competition. A total of 118 injuries, which equated to 1.2 +/- 1.1 injuries per lifter per year and 4.4 +/- 4.8 injuries per 1,000 hours of training, were reported. The most commonly injured body regions were the shoulder (36%), lower back (24%), elbow (11%), and knee (9%). More injuries appeared to be of a sudden (acute) (59%) rather than gradual (chronic) nature (41%). National competitors had a significantly greater rate of injury (5.8 +/- 4.9 per 1,000 hours) than international competitors (3.6 +/- 3.6 per 1,000 hours). The relative proportion of injuries at some body regions varied significantly as a function of competitive standard and gender. No significant differences in injury profile were seen between Open and Masters or between lightweight and heavyweight lifters. Power lifting appears to have a moderately low risk of injury, regardless of the lifter's age, body mass, competitive standard, or gender, compared with other sports. Future research should utilize a prospective cohort or case-controlled design to examine the effect of a range of other intrinsic and extrinsic factors on injury epidemiology and to assess the effects of various intervention strategies.

Anthropometry of sixty-eight Australasian & Pacific competitive power lifters

Anthropometry of sixty-eight Australasian & Pacific competitive power lifters

Muscle Fiber Characteristics of Competitive Power Lifters

To examine the skeletal muscle characteristics of power lifters, 5 competitive power lifters (PL; X ± SE; age 5 31.0 ± 1.5 years, squat 5 287.7 ± 15.7 kg, bench press 5 170.5 ± 17.7 kg, and deadlift 5 284.2 ± 7.5 kg) and 5 untrained control subjects (CON; age = 27.3 ± 3.3 years) served as subjects. Iso-kinetic squat force and power was greater (p < 0.05) for the PL at all bar velocities (0.20, 0.82, and 1.43 m · s1), as was vertical jump height and estimated power. Muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis m. revealed significant differences for percent fiber type (PL, IIA 5 45.5 ± 1.6%, IIB 5 1.3 ± 0.8%; CON, IIA 5 33.4 ± 3.1%, IIB 5 12.0 ± 2.4%); percent fiber type area (PL, IIA 5 51.8 ± 1.6%, IIB 5 1.3 ± 0.8%; CON, IIA 5 43.5 ± 3.4%, IIB 5 12.4 ± 2.6%); and percent myosin heavy chain isoform (PL, IIa 5 59.5 ± 6.1%; CON, 46.5 ± 2.5%). Muscle fiber characteristics were significantly correlated (r = 6 0.61) with numerous strength and power measures for the PL. These data illustrate the muscle fiber characteristics necessary for the maximal force production requirements of power lifting.

Expectancy Effects and Strength Training: Do Steroids Make a Difference?

Although expectancy has been shown to play a role in the effect of Anabolic Steroids (AS) on behavior, little research has been completed on the potential for parallel effects on performance. This is an important area for investigation because if expectancy effects can be shown to operate by improvements in performance through the administration of a placebo, arguments against the use of AS may be more successfully advanced. Accordingly, the present investigation used the administration of a placebo (saccharine) with competitive power lifters, using false information about the nature of the drug to delineate expectancy effects. The pervasiveness of these effects was further examined by disclosing the true nature of the drug to half of the participants, midway through the investigation. Notable improvements in performance associated with the belief that AS had been administered largely dissipated when athletes were informed as to the true nature of the drug. Results indicated that expectancy played a notable role in performance enhancement. Implications for this work include more effective use of such investigations in the fight against doping in sport.

Increased premature mortality of competitive powerlifters suspected to have used anabolic agents.

Misuse of supraphysiological doses of anabolic steroids is claimed to have serious side effects. The aim of the study was to determine the mortality, and the cause of premature deaths among a group of subjects who are strongly suspected to have used anabolic steroids for a non-medical purpose over several years. The mortality of 62 male powerlifters placed 1st-5th in weight series 82.5-125 kg in Finnish championships during 1977-1982 was compared with the mortality of population controls. The mortality during the 12-year follow-up was 12.9% for the powerlifters compared to 3.1% in the control population. By 1993 eight of 62 powerlifters and 34 of 1094 population controls had died, thus the risk of death among the powerlifters was 4.6 times higher (95% CI 2.04-10.45; p = 0.0002). The causes of premature death among the powerlifters were suicide (3), acute myocardial infarction (3), hepatic coma (1) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (1). These findings add to the growing amount of evidence of an association between anabolic steroid abuse and premature death, and support the view that measures to decrease AAS misuse among both competitive and amateur athletes are justified.

Exercise dependence among competitive power lifters.

Scores on exercise dependence examined among a sample of 14 competitive power lifters showed higher exercise dependence among lifters than those previously reported for endurance athletes.

EVALUATION OF STRENGTH SCORES: DO COMMON SCALING TECHNIQUES ADEQUATELY ADJUST FOR DIFFERENCES IN BODY MASS? 49

Due to the positive relationship between strength scores and body mass(BM), it is necessary to account for BM when making comparisons among scores. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare three common methods(ratio scaling, residuals method, & allometric scaling) for adjusting strength scores for BM. Strength scores were obtained from competitive powerlifters representing lifting classes ranging from 52 to 125 kg of BM. There were 1000 scores acquired for each of three different exercises (squat, bench press & deadlift). The strength scores for each exercise were equally partitioned into groups based upon the lifter's BM. Ratio scaling, residuals method, and allometric scaling techniques were used to make BM adjusted comparisons across the groups. Ratio scaling for BM resulted in scores that were lower for subjects who were at the lower and upper ends of the BM range. Values at both extremes were approximately 70-80% of those in the mid range. For the residuals method, the residual scores progressively deviated below 0 when comparing both the lower and upper ends of the BM range to the middle. Allometric scaling using BM exponents of.51 and.67 yielded scores that were more consistent across the BM range compared to the other methods. However, scores at the lower end of the range were still lower than those in the middle or upper end. Therefore, ratio scaling and the residuals method which are based upon a linear model appear to discriminate against individuals with BMs below or above typical values. Allometric scaling using a power function fit appears to scale scores in the middle and upper end of the BM range, but scores at the lower end tend to be suppressed. In conclusion, strength scores that are adjusted for BM using the three methods examined should be interpreted cautiously due to the potential for suppressed scores for individuals whose BM does not fall within the typical range.

Biomechanical Analysis of the Deadlift

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to document the differences in kinematics between the Sumo and conventional style deadlift techniques as performed by competitive powerlifters. Videotapes of 19 conventional and 10 Sumo contestants at two regional New Zealand powerlifting championships were anal