Measuring Agility in Tennis, Badminton, and Squash: A Systematic Review
A systematic review in PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar was conducted to provide a state-of-the-science overview of agility tests in the racquet sports tennis, badminton, and squash while evaluating their measurement properties. Twenty articles were included covering 28 agility tests. Results showed 10 sport-specific agility tests of which 5 were assessed on reliability and 6 on validity. Both the Badcamp and the badminton-specific speed (“agility”) test were identified as suitable agility tests available for badminton. For tennis and squash, there were no sport-specific agility tests i...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - December 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Review Source Type: research
Strength and Conditioning for Cricket Spin Bowlers
Although the popularity of cricket is increasing, there is a lack of strength and conditioning research into position-specific roles. Much of the available research on cricket spin bowling is based on ball swing, flight, deviation, and its principles. Less is known about the demands of the cricket spin bowler (needs analysis) and the specific training methods needed for the optimal performance of the athlete. Spin bowlers are considered to play a crucial role in bowling attacks against the batting team. The batsman is deceived by the spin bowler by adding revolutions to the ball and thus deviates it off the wicket. Therefo...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - December 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Review Source Type: research
Considerations for the Pregnant Endurance Athlete
It is well known that moderate exercise during pregnancy benefits maternal and fetal well-being. The benefits of more vigorous exercise for pregnant women are less clear. The boundaries of safe exercise during pregnancy remain a matter for continued research, which is important to the growing number of female athletes who plan on becoming pregnant. The purpose of this article is to discuss the existing research related to the physiological concerns of the pregnant endurance athlete specifically. Because endurance training includes prolonged and repetitive exercise bouts at varying intensities, topics will include the effec...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - December 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Review Source Type: research
Health Screening and Updated Blood Pressure Guidelines and Their Application for the Certified Personal Trainer
Certified National Strength and Conditioning Association personal trainers are “health/fitness professionals who, using an individualized approach, assess, motivate, educate, and train clients regarding their health and fitness needs. They design safe and effective exercise programs, provide the guidance to help clients achieve their personal health/fitness goals, and respond appropriately in emergency situations. Recognizing their area of expertise, personal trainers refer clients to other health care professionals when appropriate.” The design of safe and effective exercise programs includes the need to stay current ...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - December 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Invitation Source Type: research
Postrehabilitation Considerations for Individuals With Temporomandibular Disorders
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) encompass a multitude of signs and symptoms that arise from dysfunction of the muscles of mastication (eating), temporomandibular joint tissues, and associated anatomical structures. TMDs are recognized as a significant cause of orofacial pain, presenting in approximately 5–12% of the general population. TMDs are also common in sports with an estimated lifetime prevalence ranging from 11.7 to 77.8% of the athletic population. Basketball, handball, hockey, water polo, and swimming carry the highest risk. Given the prevalence of TMDs in the athletic and nonathletic population, there is a ...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - December 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Invitation Source Type: research
Importance of Muscle Strength in Chronic Heart Failure
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a complex syndrome characterized by dyspnea, exercise intolerance, and quality-of-life impairment. The compensatory physiological mechanisms of this disease may promote muscle wasting and reduction in muscle strength, which are independent predictors of mortality. Therefore, the evaluation of muscle strength in patients with CHF is essential for the prognosis of the disease and the evaluation of interventions. Besides that, strategies to increase muscle strength should be performed to improve this outcome. (Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal)
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - December 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Invitation Source Type: research
Aerobic and Resistance Training for Individuals With Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a result of disease or injury that results in the loss of sensory, motor, and autonomic function, or a combination of these functions below the level of injury. Research suggests that, along with medical treatment, exercise may aid in the maintaining of cardiovascular, muscular, and osteogenic health in individuals with an SCI. Practices, contraindications, special considerations, and general recommendations for whole-body cardiorespiratory and resistance exercise programming and progression for individuals with an SCI are discussed throughout. (Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal)
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - December 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Article Source Type: research
The Viking Press
The Viking press exercise is an upper-body strength and power movement with several potential benefits for athletes. The aim of this article is to describe proper exercise technique and introduce variations for the Viking press. (Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal)
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - October 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Exercise Technique Source Type: research
Considerations in the Development of a Postgraduate Strength and Conditioning Program: Insights From Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand
Aspiring and established strength and conditioning professionals are increasingly seeking opportunities to further their knowledge to gain a competitive advantage within the highly competitive profession. Postgraduate degree programs in the discipline are therefore becoming a popular option for academic institutions to meet the demands of the workforce and marketplace. The purpose of this article is to bring together experienced practitioners and applied academics to offer considerations for the prospective strength and conditioning postgraduate student. Furthermore, this piece can be considered by academics that are respo...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - October 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Article Source Type: research
Optimizing Verbal Communication in the Instruction of Weightlifting to Weightlifting Naïve Athletes
Motor learning theories should be used by coaches to optimally apply their technical knowledge of weightlifting. The OPTIMAL (Optimizing Performance Through Intrinsic Motivation and Attention for Learning) theory of motor learning highlights the importance of motivation and attention in the motor learning process, with enhanced expectancies and autonomy underpinning the athlete's motivation and an external focus of attention optimizing the athlete's attention. Better results are obtained by collaborating with athletes in an athlete-centered approach, giving them a sense of control and ownership of their learning process an...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - October 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Article Source Type: research
5-a-Side Game as a Tool for the Coach in Soccer Training
Physical outputs in soccer training can be influenced by the interaction of several variables during the performance of different small side games (SSGs) formats. For this reason, it is relevant to understand how the manipulation of variables such as training method, exercise duration, number of repetitions, or recovery time affect the training loads and the performance. The main aim of this work was to provide coaches with relevant theoretical aspects and examples of practical applications to use from the specific format of 5-a-side SSG. To search for relevant publications and ensure the quality of articles, the search st...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - October 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Article Source Type: research
Writing a Needs Analysis: Exploring the Details
The first step in preparing a comprehensive periodized strength and conditioning program is the needs analysis—that is a formal process for determining the general and specific needs of the athlete based on their sport or task. It involves many more pieces than most consider and is not simply about goal setting. Depth and specificity of event requirements and details are important because there will be variability in needs and program design due to the task and level of prior experience and participation. The specifics of the task and the particulars of the individual athlete may lead to the need for significant study an...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - October 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Article Source Type: research
Classification and Determination Model of Resistance Training Status
An individual's training status is a key factor used to determine the volume, the intensity, and the selection of exercises for resistance training prescription. Interestingly, there are no objective parameters to assess training status, so there is ambiguity in determining the appropriate volume and other resistance training variables in this regard. Thus, the objective of this study was to propose a strategy for classification and determination of resistance training status. The following five parameters were identified and used: (a) current uninterrupted training time, (b) time of detraining, (c) previous training exper...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - October 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Review Source Type: research
Utility of Back-Off Sets: An Overview
Back-off sets or down sets are a training paradigm that use an initial heavy loaded set followed by a subsequent rest period and a planned load reduction. Back-off sets are a way to maintain or increase training volume through a load reduction for subsequent sets. By reducing load, a desired number of repetitions can be achieved as opposed to a reduction in volume that would occur if a consistent load was maintained. Back-off sets have been shown to allow completion of a greater training volume which may be in part due to a potentiation effect. The use of back-off sets help to reduce the necessary length of interset rest p...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - October 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Review Source Type: research
Plyo-Accentuated Eccentric Loading Methods to Enhance Lower Limb Muscle Power
Accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) can be combined with lower-body power-based movements to acutely enhance them; however, currently, there are limited recommendations for this training method. AEL can enhance force and power metrics during its utilization with lower-body power-based exercises. When using AEL, exercises should consist of jump squats and countermovement jumps with loading methods consisting of weight releasors or dumbbell hand release. Elastic bands can be used; however, more research is needed in this area. External loads ranging from 10–30% of body mass can be used. Future research needs to investigate...
Source: Strength and Conditioning Journal - October 1, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Review Source Type: research
