Loading a barbell with variable resistance positively alters kinetic characteristics during the back squat and bench press but has never been studied during the deadlift. The purpose of this project was to examine the acute effects of combining elastic bands and free weights during the deadlift at moderate and heavy loads. Twelve trained men (age: 24.08 ± 2.35 years, height: 175.94 ± 5.38 cm, mass: 85.58 ± 12.49 kg, deadlift 1 repetition maximum (RM): 188.64 ± 16.13 kg) completed 2 variable resistance (B1 and B2) and 1 traditional free-weight (NB) condition at both 60 and 85% 1RM on a force plate. B1 had 15% resistance from bands, with the remaining 85% from free weights. B2 had 35% bands and 65% free weights. NB used free weights only. Average resistance was equated for all conditions. Power and velocity generally increased, whereas force decreased with the addition of bands. The amount of band tension (B1 or B2) had little impact on power when lifting at 60% 1RM. However, greater resistance from bands resulted in greater peak and relative power when lifting at 85% 1RM. Adding elastic bands decreased time to peak force (PF), time between PF and peak power (PP), and time between PF and peak velocity (PV) when compared with NB at 60% 1RM (NB > B1 > B2). These differences only reached significance for NB > B2 when lifting at 85% 1RM. These same differences existed for time between PP and PV. Thus, the amount of tension from bands has less impact on interpeak variables at heavier absolute loads. Practitioners should consider using heavy bands when prescribing the deadlift for speed or power, but not maximal force.

Single muscle fiber sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) is a sensitive technique for determining skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition of human biopsy samples. However, the number of fibers suitable to represent fiber type distribution via this method is undefined. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis (VL) of nine resistance-trained males (25 ± 1 year, height = 179 ± 5 cm, mass = 82 ± 8 kg). Single fiber MHC composition was determined via SDS-PAGE. VL fiber type distribution [percent MHC I, I/IIa, IIa, IIa/IIx, and total "hybrids" (i.e. I/IIa + IIa/IIx)] was evaluated according to number of fibers analyzed per person (25 vs. 125). VL fiber type distribution did not differ according to number of fibers analyzed (P > 0.05). VL biopsy fiber type distribution of nine subjects is represented by analyzing 25 fibers per person. These data may help minimize cost, personnel-time, and materials associated with this technique, thereby improving fiber typing efficiency in humans.

No abstract

Nealer, AL, Dunnick, DD, Malyszek, KK, Wong, MA, Costa, PB, Coburn, JW, and Brown, LE. Influence of rest intervals after assisted sprinting on bodyweight sprint times in female collegiate soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 31(1): 88-94, 2017-Speed is a crucial element an athlete must possess to be successful. In soccer, the ability to accelerate faster than your opponent can result in being first to reach a ball on a breakaway or stopping a counter attack. A unique way to train explosive movements is to evoke postactivation potentiation (PAP) in the working muscles. Traditionally, an overload stimulus with a long rest period is used, but a model using an overspeed stimulus with shorter rest periods is less understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the acute effects of varied rest intervals after assisted sprinting on bodyweight sprint time. Twenty-four female soccer players were split into 2 groups: recreational (n:11; age:20 ± 1.67 year; ht:162.30 ± 4.35 cm; mass:61.02 ± 8.78 kg) and collegiate athletes (n:13; age:19.76 ± 0.83 year; ht:166.85 ± 5.98 cm; mass:61.23 ± 3.77 kg). All participants attended 5 separate sessions, performed a dynamic warm up, then executed one 20 m sprint (with 5 m splits) at 30% bodyweight assistance (BWA). They then rested for 30 seconds, 1, 2, or 4 minutes in random order, followed by one bodyweight sprint with no BWA. Baseline sprint times were measured without BWA on the initial session of testing. Results revealed no difference in sprint time for the full 20 m distance in either group. However, sprint time was significantly decreased for the 0-5 m split only for the athletes after 1 minute (1.15 ± 0.06 second) and 2 minute (1.16 ± 0.06 second) rest compared with baseline (1.21 ± 0.04 second). Therefore, trained athletes should rest 1 or 2 minutes after 30% BWA supramaximal sprinting for increased bodyweight sprint speed.