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Published on: July 27, 2022
Explosive sport training and torque kinetics in children.
Raffy Dotan1, Cameron J Mitchell, Rotem Cohen
1Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada. rdotan@brocku.ca
Summary
Gymnastics training significantly enhances rate of force development (RFD) and force kinetics in young boys, reaching adult-like levels. This improvement in explosive strength is specific to trained movements, suggesting neurological adaptations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Exercise Science
- Sports Biomechanics
- Neuromuscular Physiology
Background:
- High rate of force development (RFD) is crucial for athletic performance and daily activities, often surpassing the importance of maximal force.
- While resistance training improves maximal force in children, its effects on RFD and force kinetics remain less understood.
- Understanding these adaptations is key to optimizing training programs for young athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the strength and force kinetics of boy gymnasts with untrained boys and untrained men.
- To investigate the extent to which specialized training, like gymnastics, can enhance RFD and force production in prepubertal boys.
- To explore potential underlying physiological mechanisms for observed improvements.
Main Methods:
- Eight boy gymnasts and two control groups (untrained boys and men) performed maximal, explosive, isometric elbow and knee flexions.
- Measurements included peak torque (maximal voluntary contraction - MVC), time to reach specific MVC percentages, and peak rate of torque development (RTDpk).
- Strength and force kinetics were analyzed and compared across the three groups, with normalization for body size.
Main Results:
- Boy gymnasts exhibited significantly higher size-normalized elbow flexion MVC, RTDpk, and faster times to reach 30% and 80% MVC compared to untrained boys.
- No significant differences in knee flexion kinetics were observed between gymnasts and untrained boys.
- While normalized elbow flexion MVC was lower in gymnasts than men, their torque kinetics parameters were comparable to adult levels.
Conclusions:
- Gymnastics training specifically enhances the rate of force development and torque kinetics in young boys, elevating them to adult-like performance levels.
- These improvements appear to be movement-specific, as knee flexion kinetics did not show similar enhancements.
- Neurological adaptations, including enhanced neural drive and motor unit recruitment, alongside potential changes in musculotendinous stiffness, are suggested as underlying mechanisms.
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