Search

Track and field throwing performance is determined by a number of biomechanical and biological factors which are affected by long-term training. Although much of the research has focused on the role of biomechanical factors on track and field throwing performance, only a small body of scientific literature has focused on the connection of biological factors with competitive track and field throwing performance. The aim of this review was to accumulate and present the current literature connecting the performance in track and field throwing events with specific biological factors, including the anthropometric characteristics, the body composition, the neural activation, the fiber type composition and the muscle architecture characteristics. While there is little published information to develop statistical results, the results from the current review suggest that major biological determinants of track and field throwing performance are the size of lean body mass, the neural activation of the protagonist muscles during the throw and the percentage of type II muscle fiber cross-sectional area. Long-term training may enhance these biological factors and possibly lead to a higher track and field throwing performance. Consequently, coaches and athletes should aim at monitoring and enhancing these parameters in order to increase track and field throwing performance. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether a) modification in muscle architecture due to training intervention and b) neuromuscular explosive field tests results may predict competition performance in track and field throwing athletes. Methods: Eleven track and field throwers completed 10 weeks of specific training that was performed prior to the summer official national competition. Before and following the 10 weeks of training programe, track and field throwing trials, vastus lateralis muscle architecture, shot put tests, standing long jump, and 40m sprinting were evaluated. Results: Track and field throwing performance, muscle thickness, fascicle length and power-position shot put throw all increased by 5.78 ± 2.82% (P = 0.000), 6.2 ± 7.4% (P = 0.01), 10.5 ± 13.1% (P = 0.02) and 2.8 ± 3.9% (P = 0.04), respectively. Sprinting time in 40m decreased by-1.2 ± 1.0% (P = 0.004), whilst, work power output during the standing long-jump increased by 1.7 ± 2.5% (P = 0.03) when compared between pre-and post-training intervention. The power-position shot put throwing result was positively correlated with the increase in standing long-jump (r = 0.81, P < 0.01) and with the increase in 40m sprint (r =-0.63, P < 0.05) performances. The increase in muscle thickness was positively correlated with the increase in 40m sprint performance (r = 0.62, P < 0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis, combining the percentage alteration in backward shot put throw and vastus lateralis thickness with the proportional increase in track and field throwing competition performance, explains the 56% increase observed in throwing competition result. Conclusions: These results may suggest that consistent examination of muscle thickness and evaluation of throwing ability using explosive field tests during a training period both may be used to predict the increase in track and field throwing competive performance. © JPES.

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of compound vs. complex resistance training on strength, high-speed movement performance, and muscle composition. Eighteen young men completed compound (strength and power sessions on alternate days) or complex training (strength and power sets within a single session) 3 times per week for 6 weeks using bench press, leg press, Smith machine box squat, and jumping exercises. Pre- and posttraining, jumping and throwing performance and maximum bench press, leg press, and Smith machine box squat strength were evaluated. The architecture of vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius muscle was assessed using ultrasound imaging. Vastus lateralis morphology was assessed from muscle biopsies. Jumping (4 ± 3%) and throwing (9 ± 8%) performance increased only with compound training (p < 0.02). Bench press (5 vs. 18%), leg press (17 vs. 28%), and Smith machine box squat (27 vs. 35%) strength increased after both compound and complex training. Vastus lateralis thickness and fascicle angle and gastrocnemius fascicle angle were increased with both compound and complex training. Gastrocnemius fascicle length decreased only after complex training (-11.8 ± 9.4%, p 0.006). Muscle fiber cross-sectional areas increased only after complex training (p ≤ 0.05). Fiber type composition was not affected by either intervention. These results suggest that short-term strength and power training on alternate days is more effective for enhancing lower-limb and whole-body power, whereas training on the same day may induce greater increases in strength and fiber hypertrophy. © 2015 National Strength and Conditioning Association.