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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of reduced effort on maximum countermovement jumps. Groups of unskilled and skilled jumpers performed countermovement jumps without an arm swing at 100% and 50% effort. The results revealed markedly reduced jump height and work performed at 50% effort, although the maximum force and power output remained virtually unchanged. The observed differences were consistent across individuals with different jumping skills. A possible cause of differences in changes across the tested variables was a reduced countermovement depth associated with the 50% effort jumps. It is known to cause an increase in maximum force and power outputs, but not in jump height. Therefore, the jump height and work performed may be more closely related to our sense of effort when jumping, rather than our maximum force and power output. From a practical perspective, the present findings reiterate the importance of maximizing effort for making valid assessments of muscle mechanical capacities, as tested by maximal vertical jumps and, possibly, other maximum performance tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: An a posteriori multicenter reliability study was conducted to compare the reliability of the outcomes derived from the linear force–velocity (F–V) relationship (F-intercept [F0], V-intercept [V0], F–V slope, and maximum power [Pmax]) using a 2-point method based on 2 distant loads with respect to a multiple-point method based on 4 proximal loads and a multiple-point method that considered all 6 tested loads. Method: Data from 63 healthy men derived from 3 studies were analyzed. The F–V relationship obtained from the bench-press-throw exercise was determined in 2 separate sessions using 3 different combinations of loads: 2-point method (20–70% of 1-repetition maximum [1RM]), 4-load multiple-point method (30–40–50–60% of 1RM), and 6-load multiple-point method (20–30–40–50–60–70% of 1RM). Reliability was assessed through the coefficient of variation (CV), whereas a CVratio of 1.15 was deemed as the smallest important ratio. Results: The 2-point method provided the outcomes of the F–V relationship with greater reliability than the 4-load multiple-point method (F0, 3.58% vs 4.53%, CVratio = 1.27; V0, 5.58% vs 7.85%, CVratio = 1.41; F–V slope, 8.57% vs 11.99%, CVratio = 1.40; Pmax, 4.33% vs 4.81%, CVratio = 1.11). The reliability of the 6-load multiple-point method was comparable to the 2-point method (F0, 3.53%, CVratio = 1.01; V0, 5.32%, CVratio = 1.05; F–V slope, 8.38%, CVratio = 1.02; P0, 3.74%, CVratio = 1.16). Conclusion:The distance between experimental points is more important for obtaining a reproducible F–V relationship than the number of experimental points; therefore, the 2-point method could be recommended for a quicker assessment of the F–V relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study compared the concurrent validity and reliability of previously proposed generalized group equations for estimating the bench press (BP) 1-repetition maximum (1RM) with the individualized load--velocity relationship modeled with a 2-point method. Methods: Thirty men (BP 1RM relative to body mass: 1.08 [0.18] kg⋅kg-1) performed 2 incremental loading tests in the concentric-only BP exercise and another 2 in the eccentric--concentric BP exercise to assess their actual 1RM and load--velocity relationships. A high velocity (≈1 m⋅s-1) and a low velocity (≈0.5 m⋅s-1) were selected from their load--velocity relationships to estimate the 1RM from generalized group equations and through an individual linear model obtained from the 2 velocities. Results: The directly measured 1RM was highly correlated with all predicted 1RMs (r = .847-.977). The generalized group equations systematically underestimated the actual 1RM when predicted from the concentric-only BP (P < .001; effect size = 0.15-0.94) but overestimated it when predicted from the eccentric--concentric BP (P < .001; effect size = 0.36--0.98). Conversely, a low systematic bias (range: -2.3 to 0.5 kg) and random errors (range: 3.0-3.8 kg), no heteroscedasticity of errors (r² = .053-.082), and trivial effect size (range: -0.17 to 0.04) were observed when the prediction was based on the 2-point method. Although all examined methods reported the 1RM with high reliability (coefficient of variation ≤ 5.1%; intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ .89), the direct method was the most reliable (coefficient of variation < 2.0%; intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ .98). Conclusions: The quick, fatigue-free, and practical 2-point method was able to predict the BP 1RM with high reliability and practically perfect validity, and therefore, the authors recommend its use over generalized group equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present longitudinal study was to explore distinctive anthropometric and physical performance characteristics of young soccer players between the age of 11 and 14 and to reveal the performance at the age of 11, which contributes to the later success. Male players of the best national male squads of the 'cadet league' (14 years of age; n = 26) were annually tested starting from the age of 11 for body size and composition, flexibility, power, coordination, and agility. Randomly selected untrained but physically active age-matched boys (n = 63) were also tested over 4 consecutive years. The results revealed no difference between 2 groups regarding the body size and composition (p > 0.05). The differences in flexibility emerged only at the later age, whereas the differences regarding the explosive power (as assessed by various jumps) were moderate and partly inconsistent. The most prominent advantage of the soccer players over the control subjects during the entire tested age period appeared to be movement agility and coordination (p < 0.01). Therefore, the explosive muscle power and, in particular, the agility and coordination characterize elite soccer players of 11-14 years of age but not the body size and body composition. In addition, the agility and coordination could be among the crucial factors of future success in 11-year-old players and, therefore, should be used for early selection. KEY WORDS test, selection, boys, power, flexibility, agility

Among other routinely tested physical abilities, the tests of rapid movement performance and the tests of direct assessment of muscle power have been independently evaluated in complex batteries of physical fitness tests. Based on the scaling effects, we hypothesized that the tests of rapid movement performance assess the same physical ability as the tests of direct assessment of muscle power properly normalized for the effect of body size. Young physically active men (n = 111) were evaluated on 23 physical ability tests based on the assessment of muscle strength, muscle power, and rapid movement performance. When non-normalized data were used, a principle component analysis revealed a structure with overlapping tests from the above-mentioned groups including the indices of body size. However, when the indices of muscle strength and directly assessed muscle power were properly normalized for the effect of body size, the obtained structure was in line with the hypothesis. Most of the tests of both the direct assessment of muscle power and rapid movement performance proved to belong to the same factor, whereas the muscle strength tests and body size measures, respectively, loaded the remaining 2 factors. This result suggests that the rapid movement performance could be employed to assess muscle power and, possibly, the neuromuscular efficiency in general, which could be important for understanding some basic aspects of the design and function of the human locomotor system. An important practical implication of our findings could be that the direct assessment of muscle power (that usually requires expensive equipment and complex data processing procedures) could be skipped from the complex batteries of physical fitness tests and replaced by generally simpler tests of rapid movement performance. KEY WORDS mass, scaling, strength, structure

The soccer-specific field tests are popular among coaches due to their simplicity, validity, and minimal use of equipment. Nevertheless, there is a general lack of data about their reliability, particularly regarding the tests of anaerobic performance. Twenty professional male soccer players performed 3 consecutive trials of the tests of throwing-in and standing-kick performance (the distance measured) as well as on timed 10-m sprint, flying 20-m sprint, running 10 x 5 m, zigzag running with and without the ball, and the skill index (i.e., the ratio of the zigzag running without and with the ball). With the exception of the throwing-in and standing kick, the evaluated tests revealed high intraclass correlation coefficients (i.e., >0.80), small within-individual variations (coefficient of variation, KEY WORDS intraclass correlation coefficient, anaerobic performance, agility, skill

The purpose of the study was to explore the effect of maturation on the body size-physical performance relationship. Based on our previous study that evaluated only muscle strength (16), we hypothesized that the physical performance tested on pubescent subjects would be related to body size at a higher rate than predicted by standard scaling theory applied on pre- and postpubescent subjects. Six age groups of highly selected and trained junior soccer players (N = 478; age 12-17 years) presumably including prepubescent, pubescent, and postpubescent subjects were evaluated. They were tested using various standard tests of maximum physical performance including muscle strength of 3 leg muscle groups, 2 jumps, sit-ups, hand and foot tapping, and agility. The results revealed a steeper increase of the tested performance with an increase in body size for the pubescent age than for the pre- and postpubescent age. The observed phenomenon was interpreted by different level of maturation of the subjects tested within the same pubescent age group. We conclude that maturation alters the effect of body size on various physical performances and, therefore, this phenomenon needs to be taken into account when interpreting the data from the physical performance tests applied on pubescent subjects. KEY WORDS. scaling, allometric, soccer, movement, strength

Purpose: To explore the feasibility of the linear force-velocity (F-V) modeling approach to detect selective changes of F-V parameters (ie, maximum force [F0], maximum velocity [V0], F-V slope [a], and maximum power [P0]) after a sprint-training program. Methods: Twenty-seven men were randomly assigned to a heavy-load group (HLG), light-load group (LLG), or control group (CG). The training sessions (6 wk x 2 sessions/wk) comprised performing 8 maximal-effort sprints against either heavy (HLG) or light (LLG) resistances in leg cycle-ergometer exercise. Pre- and posttest consisted of the same task performed against 4 different resistances that enabled the determination of the F-V parameters through the application of the multiple-point method (4 resistances used for the F-V modeling) and the recently proposed 2-point method (only the 2 most distinctive resistances used). Results: Both the multiple-point and the 2-point methods revealed high reliability (all coefficients of variation <5% and intraclass correlation coefficients >.80) while also being able to detect the group-specific training-related changes. Large increments of F0, a, and P0 were observed in HLG compared with LLG and CG (effect size [ES] = 1.29-2.02). Moderate increments of V0 were observed in LLG compared with HLG and CG (ES = 0.87-1.15). Conclusions: Short-term sprint training on a leg cycle ergometer induces specific changes in F-V parameters that can be accurately monitored by applying just 2 distinctive resistances during routine testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determined the optimal resistive forces for testing muscle capacities through the standard cycle ergometer test (1 resistive force applied) and a recently developed 2-point method (2 resistive forces used for force-velocity modelling). Twenty-six men were tested twice on maximal sprints performed on a leg cycle ergometer against 5 flywheel resistive forces (R1-R5). The reliability of the cadence and maximum power measured against the 5 individual resistive forces, as well as the reliability of the force-velocity relationship parameters obtained from the selected 2-point methods (R1-R2, R1-R3, R1-R4, and R1-R5), were compared. The reliability of outcomes obtained from individual resistive forces was high except for R5. As a consequence, the combination of R1 (≈175 rpm) and R4 (≈110 rpm) provided the most reliable 2-point method (CV: 1.46%-4.04%; ICC: 0.89-0.96). Although the reliability of power capacity was similar for the R1-R4 2-point method (CV: 3.18%; ICC: 0.96) and the standard test (CV: 3.31%; ICC: 0.95), the 2-point method should be recommended because it also reveals maximum force and velocity capacities. Finally, we conclude that the 2-point method in cycling should be based on 2 distant resistive forces, but avoiding cadences below 110 rpm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the validity of mechanical variables obtained by a linear velocity transducer from the unconstrained and constrained squat jump (SJ). Twenty-three men were tested on the unconstrained SJ and the SJ constrained by a Smith machine. Maximum values of force, velocity, and power were simultaneously recorded both by a linear velocity transducer attached to a bar of mass of 17, 30, 45, 60, and 75 kg and by a force plate. Linear velocity transducer generally overestimated the outcomes measured as compared to the force plate, particularly in unconstrained SJ. Bland-Altman plots revealed that heteroscedasticity of errors was mainly observed for velocity variables (r² = .26-.58) where the differences were negatively associated with the load magnitude. However, exceptionally high correlations were observed between the same outcomes recorded with the 2 methods in both unconstrained (median r = .89 [.71-.95]) and constrained SJ (r = .90 [.65-.95]). Although the systematic and proportional bias needs to be acknowledged, the high correlations between the variables obtained by 2 methods suggest that the linear velocity transducer could provide valid values of the force, velocity, and power outputs from both unconstrained and constrained SJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of standardized methodology for normalizing various indices of muscle strength and movement performance tests for differences in body size in human movement-related disciplines. Most of the data presented in the literature have been body size dependent, which precludes both comparisons between subjects and establishment of standards for specific subject populations. The goal of the present review was to propose standardized tests that normalize physical performance tests to body size. Specifically, we propose (a) using an allometric normalization based on theoretical models that presume geometric similarity, (b) using classification of performance tests based on particular values of the allometric parameters required for normalization, and (c) using a simple 'performance index' that represents an individual or group performance relative to a reference population. Correspondences between theory and experimental findings and limitations are discussed. KEY WORDS. scaling, allometric, muscle strength, movement