Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Exercise and Muscle Performance01:27

Exercise and Muscle Performance

Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Social Facilitation01:04

Social Facilitation

Not all intergroup interactions lead to negative outcomes. Sometimes, being in a group situation can improve performance. Social facilitation occurs when an individual performs better when an audience is watching than when the individual performs the behavior alone. This typically occurs when people are performing a task for which they are skilled.
Force and Momentum01:17

Force and Momentum

Force and momentum are intimately related. Force acting over time can change momentum, and Newton's second law of motion can be stated in its most broadly applicable form in terms of momentum. Momentum can be applied to systems where the mass is changing, such as rockets, as well as to systems of constant mass. Also, momentum continues to be a key concept in the study of atomic and subatomic particles in quantum mechanics. One can consider systems with varying mass in some detail; however, the...
Exercise and Cardiac Output01:17

Exercise and Cardiac Output

Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Interrelationships Among Linear Sprinting, Curve Sprinting, Change-of-Direction Ability, and Power Output in Elite Female Soccer Players.

Journal of strength and conditioning research·2026
Same author

Exploring Exercise Specificity in Powerlifting: A Survey of Powerlifters' Training Practices and Demographic Influences.

Journal of strength and conditioning research·2025
Same author

Priming Exercises and Their Potential Impact on Speed and Power Performance: A Narrative Review.

Journal of human kinetics·2025
Same author

Effects of Loaded and Unloaded Jumps Used as Priming Activities in Elite Male Rugby Union Players.

Journal of strength and conditioning research·2025
Same author

What patients with cancer require from their clinicians to enable uptake of exercise as part of cancer care: A mixed methods study.

Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice·2025
Same author

Exercise and Psychosexual Education to Improve Sexual Function in Men With Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

JAMA network open·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players
10:08

Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players

Published on: June 10, 2025

Adaptations in athletic performance after ballistic power versus strength training.

Prue Cormie1, Michael R McGuigan, Robert U Newton

  • 1School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia. p.cormie@ecu.edu.au

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|February 9, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Both heavy strength training and ballistic power training significantly improved athletic performance in relatively weak individuals. Strength training yielded greater gains in maximal strength, suggesting it is a more effective long-term modality.

More Related Videos

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
07:30

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations

Published on: May 1, 2018

Importance of Jumping Ability in Handball Throwing Speed and Accuracy
02:43

Importance of Jumping Ability in Handball Throwing Speed and Accuracy

Published on: April 4, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players
10:08

Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players

Published on: June 10, 2025

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
07:30

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations

Published on: May 1, 2018

Importance of Jumping Ability in Handball Throwing Speed and Accuracy
02:43

Importance of Jumping Ability in Handball Throwing Speed and Accuracy

Published on: April 4, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Exercise Physiology
  • Sports Science
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Athletic performance relies on a combination of strength and power.
  • The optimal training strategy for improving athletic performance in untrained individuals is debated.
  • Understanding the neuromuscular adaptations to different training types is crucial for effective program design.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effects of heavy strength training (ST) versus ballistic power training (PT) on athletic performance in relatively weak men.
  • To investigate the underlying neuromuscular mechanisms driving performance adaptations in response to ST and PT.
  • To determine which training modality offers superior benefits for athletic development in novice trainees.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty-four relatively weak men were randomized into ST, PT, or control groups for 10 weeks.
  • ST involved back squats at 75-90% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), while PT used jump squats at 0-30% 1RM.
  • Performance (jump, sprint) and neuromuscular adaptations (force-velocity, muscle architecture, neural drive) were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Both ST and PT groups demonstrated significant improvements in jump and sprint performance with no significant differences between groups.
  • The ST group exhibited significantly greater increases in maximal strength (squat 1RM) compared to the PT group.
  • Neuromuscular adaptations, including changes in the force-velocity relationship, jump mechanics, muscle architecture, and neural activation, were observed and specific to the training stimulus.

Conclusions:

  • Ballistic power training and heavy strength training yield similar short-term improvements in athletic performance for relatively weak individuals.
  • Neuromuscular adaptations underpinning these performance gains are specific to the training modality.
  • Heavy strength training is recommended for relatively weak individuals due to its ability to enhance maximal strength alongside similar short-term performance improvements.