Eccentric Resistance Training in Youth: Perspectives for Long-Term Athletic Development

Abstract

The purpose of this narrative review is to discuss the role of eccentric resistance training in youth and how this training modality can be utilized within long-term physical development. Current literature on responses to eccentric exercise in youth has demonstrated that potential concerns, such as fatigue and muscle damage, compared to adults are not supported. Considering the importance of resistance training for youth athletes and the benefits of eccentric training in enhancing strength, power, speed, and resistance to injury, its inclusion throughout youth may be warranted. In this review we provide a brief overview of the physiological responses to exercise in youth with specific reference to the different responses to eccentric resistance training between children, adolescents, and adults. Thereafter, we discuss the importance of ensuring that force absorption qualities are trained throughout youth and how these may be influenced by growth and maturation. In particular, we propose practical methods on how eccentric resistance training methods can be implemented in youth via the inclusion of efficient landing mechanics, eccentric hamstrings strengthening and flywheel inertia training. This article proposes that the use of eccentric resistance training in youth should be considered a necessity to help develop both physical qualities that underpin sporting performance, as well as reducing injury risk. However, as with any other training modality implemented within youth, careful consideration should be given in accordance with an individual’s maturity status, training history and technical competency as well as being underpinned by current long-term physical development guidelines.

Effects of Sex and Age on Quadriceps and Hamstring Strength and Flexibility in High School Basketball Athletes

“…[37][38][39] Sports medicine specialists and coaches should incorporate hamstring exercises gradually for high school basketball athletes for their athletic performance development as well as hamstring strain injury prevention purposes with proper progressions. 40 Eccentric exercises have been commonly used during rehabilitation of tendinopathies, muscle strains, and anterior cruciate ligament post-operation. 41 Future studies can focus on eccentric exercise dose-response relationship and establish return-to-sport criteria for athletes with acute or chronic hamstring strains.…”

Eccentric Exercise: Adaptations and Applications for Health and Performance

“…Based on a survey conducted in sport coaches, the decision to include eccentric exercise into a training regime for youth athletes was most influenced by (1) movement competency, (2) training age, and (3) maturation status [ 43 ]. The magnitude of exercise induced muscle damage in response to eccentric resistance exercise is less in youth in comparison to younger adults in both males and females [ 44 , 45 , 46 ]. However, further research is required to uncover the factors contributing to differences in eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage across various age ranges.…”

“…In particular, some of the primary questions practitioners may continually grapple with include: (1) how to limit the degree of delayed onset muscle soreness and fatigue post eccentric training, (2) what type of eccentric training should be used with their athletes across different phases of the periodization plan, and (3) how a variety of athlete characteristics such as age, sex, sport and training history may influence what constitutes their optimal form of eccentric training. Two recent papers have reviewed the relevant literature in an attempt to provide an overview of the potential benefits of eccentric training for team sport [ 60 ] and youth athletes [ 46 ] and to provide some practical recommendations regarding the integration of eccentric training into the overall training programs for these athletic groups.…”

“…Drury et al [ 46 ] performed a narrative review to determine the potential application of eccentric resistance training for youth athletes and how this might best be utilized as a component of their long-term athletic development. This review summarized a number of the neuromuscular and metabolic responses to eccentric exercise in youth, including the repeated bout effect that may be important factors to consider when looking to incorporate eccentric training for this population [ 46 ]. Due to the potential for fatigue, muscle damage or injury with high load eccentric loading, the review also examined how eccentric resistance training may influence fatigue and muscle damage in youth athletes [ 46 ].…”

Eccentric Resistance Training in Youth: A Survey of Perceptions and Current Practices by Strength and Conditioning Coaches

“…To date, conceptual recommendations have been provided with regards to the training prescription of ERT methods in youth [ 1 , 35 ]. However, little is known about its actual implementation within practice for youth athletes.…”