Individual Response to Different Forms of Resistance Training in School-Aged Boys

Abstract

Radnor, JM, Lloyd, RS, and Oliver, JL. Individual response to different forms of resistance training in school-aged boys. J Strength Cond Res 31(3): 787-797, 2017-The aim of this study was to examine individual responses to different forms of resistance training on measures of jumping and sprinting performance in school-aged boys. Eighty boys were categorized into 2 maturity groups (pre- or post-peak height velocity [PHV]) and randomly assigned to a plyometric training, resistance training, combined training, or control group. Intervention groups participated in training twice weekly for 6 weeks, with measures of acceleration, maximal running velocity, squat jump height, and reactive strength index (RSI) collected preintervention and postintervention. In the pre-PHV cohort, plyometric training and combined training resulted in significantly more positive responders than the other 2 groups in both sprint variables (standardized residual values >1.96). In the post-PHV cohort, significantly more positive responders for acceleration and squat jump height resulted from traditional strength training and combined training groups, compared with other groups. Conversely, plyometric training and combined training resulted in a significantly greater number of positive responders than the other 2 groups for maximal velocity and RSI. Control participants rarely demonstrated meaningful changes in performance over the 6-week period. Irrespective of maturation, it would seem that combined training provides the greatest opportunity for most individuals to make short-term improvements in jump and sprint performance. Taking maturation into account, our data show that a plyometric training stimulus is important for individuals in the pre-PHV stage of development, whether as a stand-alone method or in combination with traditional strength training, when attempting to improve jumping and sprinting ability. However, individuals in the post-PHV stage require a more specific training stimulus depending on the performance variable that is being targeted for improvement.

Effectiveness of Traditional Strength vs. Power Training on Muscle Strength, Power and Speed with Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Again, similar findings were reported by Chaouachi et al (2014) who found that traditional RT provided superior training adaptations compared to both Olympic weight lifting and plyometric training for 5 and 20 meter sprints. However, Radnor et al (2017) reported contradictory results to the present meta-analysis with plyometric training and combined strength and plyometric training providing more positive responders than strength training alone for sprint velocity. The Radnor study incorporated school aged boys (not specifically trained) whereas the present review included both highly trained athletes and untrained youth.…”

“…As expected, the combination of plyometrics and RT provided significantly greater improvements in sprint speed and vertical jump height performance than untrained controls with 6 and 12 weeks of training, respectively (Wong et al, 2010; Hopper et al, 2017). Radnor et al (2017) compared 6 weeks of plyometric, RT and combined training and found more positive responders for 30 m sprint speed with the combined pre-PHV group. In the post-PHV group, the combined training provided more positive responders with acceleration (10 m sprint) and squat jumps vs. the plyometric only and RT groups.…”

The Effectiveness of Progressive and Traditional Coaching Strategies to Improve Sprint and Jump Performance across Varying Levels of Maturation within a General Youth Population

“…This finding is critical in the long term safety of athletes, as previous research has already identified a higher injury rate for individuals around the period of PHV [8,[61][62][63]. Future interventions pursuing sprint and jump improvements should consider eccentric, plyometric and/or other strengthening interventions to supplement their sprint and jumps training to not only increase the performance response, but to provide the technical and physical proficiency required to safely accommodate the physiological changes that occur during this process [25,54,64].…”

“…The aim of this study is to build on the findings of previous literature [25] and further inform literature pertaining to within-PHV characteristics. This study will utilise two different coaching approaches (traditional and progressive) to identify the most effective strategy to improve sprint and jump performance within pre, circa and post-PHV maturation groups.…”

Integrating Resistance Training Into High School Curriculum

“…Research has shown that a combination of high force and high velocity exercises is superior to one or the other exclusively (33) and can successfully be performed within the same training sessions to develop a range of fitness qualities (53,75). The range of exercise intensities and velocities in mesocycles 7 and 8 reinforces this mixed method (high-force and high-velocity movements) approach advocated by Haff and Nimphius (25); 1-5 sets of 2-8 reps was used to allow for higher loading and more interset recovery.…”