BackgroundAccelerometry is the method of choice for objectively assessing physical activity in older adults. Many studies have used an accelerometer count cut point corresponding to 3 metabolic equivalents (METs) derived in young adults during treadmill walking and running with a resting metabolic rate (RMR) assumed at 3.5 mL · kg−1 · min−1 (corresponding to 1 MET). RMR is lower in older adults; therefore, their 3 MET level occurs at a lower absolute energy expenditure making the cut point derived from young adults inappropriate for this population. The few studies determining older adult specific moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) cut points had methodological limitations, such as not measuring RMR and using treadmill walking.MethodsThis study determined a MVPA hip-worn accelerometer cut point for older adults using measured RMR and overground walking. Following determination of RMR, 45 older adults (mean age 70.2 ± 7 years, range 60–87.6 years) undertook an outdoor, overground walking protocol with accelerometer count and energy expenditure determined at five walking speeds.ResultsMean RMR was 2.8 ± 0.6 mL · kg−1 · min−1. The MVPA cut points (95% CI) determined using linear mixed models were: vertical axis 1013 (734, 1292) counts · min−1; vector magnitude 1924 (1657, 2192) counts · min−1; and walking speed 2.5 (2.2, 2.8) km · hr−1. High levels of inter-individual variability in cut points were found.ConclusionsThese MVPA accelerometer and speed cut points for walking, the most popular physical activity in older adults, were lower than those for younger adults. Using cut points determined in younger adults for older adult population studies is likely to underestimate time spent engaged in MVPA. In addition, prescription of walking speed based on the adult cut point is likely to result in older adults working at a higher intensity than intended.

Latella, C, Teo, W-P, Spathis, J, and van den Hoek, D. Long-term strength adaptation: A 15-year analysis of powerlifting athletes. J Strength Cond Res 34(9): 2412–2418, 2020—Strength is a fundamental component of athletic performance and development. This investigation examined the long-term strength development of powerlifting (PL) athletes. The rate of strength gain/day was assessed in 1897 PL athletes (F = 626, M = 1,271) over a 15-year period (2003–2018). Independent T-tests explored sex differences in baseline absolute (kg) and relative strength (kg·body mass −1 [bm]) recorded from the first competition, and strength gain/day (kg·d −1 ). Analyses based on initial strength quartiles were conducted using one-way analysis of variances with significance set at p < 0.05. Bivariate correlational analysis tested for relationships between strength gain/day and baseline strength, the number of competitions, and mean days between competitions. Males had greater absolute (M: 513.3 ± 99.8 kg, F: 289.4 ± 55.7 kg, p < 0.001) and relative (M: 5.89 ± 1.04 kg·bm −1 , F: 4.27 ± 0.85 kg·bm −1 , p < 0.001) strength at baseline. Overall, strength gain/day (F: 0.12 ± 0.69 kg·d −1 , M: 0.15 ± 0.44 kg·d −1 , p = 0.318) was similar between sexes. However, the strongest males showed a lower rate of strength improvement (0.102 kg·d −1 ) compared with least strong males (0.211 kg·d −1 ), p = 0.010. No differences were observed across quartiles for females. Correlational analyses revealed significant but weak negative relationships between strength gain/day and the mean days between competitions for females ( r 2 = −0.120, p = 0.003) and males ( r 2 = −0.190, p < 0.001). Similar relationships were observed for baseline strength ( r 2 = −0.073, p = 0.009) and the number of competitions ( r 2 = −0.111, p < 0.001) for males. The results suggest similar strength adaptation between sexes. The strongest males improve more slowly, possibly due to a ceiling effect. Collectively, the findings provide novel evidence of real-world long-term strength adaptations that may be particularly useful to understand athlete development, to aid periodized programming, and to benchmark strength over time.

Powerlifting (PL) is characterised by the ability to generate maximal force. However, an understanding of the factors affecting strength in PL athletes is poorly understood. Therefore, competition data was analysed from 1368 individuals during 2017. Relative strength was compared for the squat (SQ), bench press (BP) and deadlift (DL) between age groups (subjunior [SJ], junior [JU], open [OP], and masters' I-IV [M1-M4]), weight classes (females; 47kg, 52kg, 57kg, 63kg, 72kg, 84kg and +84kg and males; 59kg, 66kg, 74kg, 83kg, 93kg, 105kg, 120kg, +120kg) and between sexes. The results showed that relative strength was greater for males across all lifts (P < 0.001). Relative strength tended to decrease with increasing body mass for males; (SQ, BP and DL: P<0.001, R 2 = 0.9306-0.9763) and females; (SQ, BP and DL: P<0.001, R 2 = 0.9485-0.9802), and with increasing age for males

van den Hoek, D, Garrett, J, Howells, R, and Latella, C. Paralympians are stronger than you know: A comparison of para and nondisabled powerlifting bench press world records. J Strength Cond Res 37(2): 452–456, 2023—This investigation explored the absolute and relative strength of bench press world record holders for World Para Powerlifting (WPPO) and International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) athletes. Athlete data (mass [in kilograms], competitive weight class, and bench press mass [in kilograms]) for world record holding male and female athletes were extracted from public databases. Absolute and relative strength (kg·kgbw−1) of athletes was compared using IPF competitive weight classes. On an individual basis, WPPO world record holders demonstrated greater absolute strength than their IPF counterparts in 5 of 8 weight classes for women and 6 of 8 weight classes for men when classified using standard IPF competitive weight classes. Overall, effect sizes for relative strength were greater in WPPO male (19.6%, g = 0.75) and female (9.24%, g = 0.38) athletes but did not reach statistical significance. The greatest relative strength observed was 3.88 kg·kgbw−1 (under 49-kg WPPO) for male and 2.72 kg·kgbw−1 (under 50-kg WPPO class) for female athletes. For IPF athletes, the greatest relative strength was reported in the under 66-kg class for male athletes (3.35 kg·kgbw−1) and under 63-kg class for female athletes (2.29 kg·kgbw−1). The physical impairments experienced by WPPO world record holders do not appear to compromise bench press strength compared with able-bodied athletes. Indeed, WPPO world record holders often possess greater relative and absolute strength than their IPF counterparts. Superior para powerlifting bench press records may be, at least in part, the result of training and biomechanical factors and seem to be the only anaerobic strength-based sport where para records exceed that of able-bodied athletes.

Background Jumping and specific multidirectional repeated sprint ability are important in basketball. The objective of this study was to assess the contributions of 8-week combined versus single-mode training programs based on drop jump (DJ) and specific multidirectional repeated sprint (MRSA) on repeated sprint ability performances, body balance and lower limbs power in male professional basketball players. Methods This study followed a randomized parallel study design. Fifty-two professional male basketball players from the Tunisian first division participated in this study. The players were randomly assigned to 4 groups: DJ group (JG; n = 13), MRSA group (RSG; n = 13), combined group (COMB; n = 13) and an active control group (CON; n = 13). The JG, RSG and COMB groups completed the 8-week training programs with 2 sessions per week while the CON continues their regular basketball training. Training volume was similar between groups all over the experimental period. Before and after the intervention, the four groups were evaluated for the stork test, Y-balance test, the repeated sprint ability test (IRSA5COD), the squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests, the single leg drop jump test, the five time-jump test and T—change of direction (CoD) test. Results All measures displayed significant main effect, (medium/small) magnitude (effect size) improvements for time (post-test > pre-test) except the physiological parameters for IRSA5COD. Significant time × group interactions were revealed for body balance, T test, IRSA5COD (total time and best time) and jump tests (vertical/horizontal). Bonferroni corrected post-hoc tests revealed significant greater improvement in favor of RSG and COMB compared to JG for body balance, CoD and IRSA5COD. Moreover, greater improvement in CMJ, SJ and single leg DJ in favor of JG compared to the RSG. In addition, a greater CoD improvement was observed in favor of COMB when compared to the RSG. Conclusion Combined and single-mode training programs based on DJ and MRSA contributed to a significantly better performance in specific basketball physical fitness parameters with results favoring combined interventions.