Neuromuscular adaptations during short-term "normal" and reduced training periods in strength athletes

Neuromuscular adaptations during a 2-week "normal" strength training period followed by a 1-week reduced training period were investigated in ten strength athletes. No systematic changes were observed in the maximal voluntary neural activation (averaged integrated EMG) of leg extensor muscles, in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the QF muscle or in maximal voluntary isometric force production characteristics of the leg extensor muscles in the whole subject sample over the entire strength training period of 3 weeks. However, significant increases were observed both in the maximal neural activation (p less than 0.05) and maximal force (from 4547 +/- 613 to 4923 +/- 901 N; p less than 0.05) of the muscles at the very end of the 1-week reduced training period in group A which consisted of five best strength athletes within the whole subject group. In group B consisting of five other athletes at a lower level no systematic changes were observed during the reduced training period. The present findings suggest that neuromuscular adaptations in strength athletes are very limited in magnitude at least during short term strength training. Maximal strength performance in highly trained strength athletes may be brought to the peak level not necessarily during "normal" strength training but more likely after some period of time with a reduced volume of training. The present observations support the concept of the periodization of training in highly trained strength athletes and indicate the important role of the nervous system in leading to the peak in their maximal strength.