Maturation-Related Differences in Adaptations to Resistance Training in Young Male Swimmers

Abstract

Moran, J, Sandercock, GRH, Ramírez-Campillo, R, Wooller, J-J, Logothetis, S, Schoenmakers, PPJM, and Parry, DA. Maturation-related differences in adaptations to resistance training in young male swimmers. J Strength Cond Res 32(1): 139-149, 2018-This study examined the effects of resistance training on muscular strength and jump performances in young male swimmers. It was hypothesized that adaptations would be of a lower magnitude in less mature (prepeak height velocity [PHV]) than in more mature (post-PHV) subjects. Fourteen pre-PHV (-1.8 ± 1.0 years) and 8 post-PHV (1.6 ± 0.5 years) swimmers undertook a 30 minutes, twice-weekly resistance training program for 8 weeks. They were compared with matched control groups (pre-PHV: -2.0 ± 1.1, n = 15; post-PHV: 1.2 ± 1.0, n = 7). The effects on lower-body isometric strength (LBS), measured with midthigh pull, and vertical jump (VJ) height in the post-PHV group were large (effect size: 1.3 [0.4 to 2.2]) and small (0.4 [-0.4 to 1.2]), respectively. Effects on LBS and VJ height in the pre-PHV group were moderate (0.8 [0.1 to 1.4]) and trivial (0.2 [-0.5 to 0.8]), respectively. Estimates in the post-PHV control group (LBS: 0.7 [-0.2 to 1.6]; VJ: 0.2 [-0.7 to 1.0]) and the pre-PHV control group (LBS: 0.1 [-0.5 to 0.7]; VJ: -0.3 [-0.9 to 0.3]) may indicate the extent to which maturation could contribute to the performance changes seen in the respective training groups. Lower-body isometric strength and VJ are trainable, but to different magnitudes, in pre- and post-PHV swimmers. After appropriate foundational training to establish technical competency, twice-weekly resistance training sessions of 30 minutes duration, comprising 3 sets of 4 exercises can be effective in pre- and post-PHV youth.

The influence of maturation on the reliability of the Nordic hamstring exercise in male youth footballers

“…That we observed better reliability in those pre‐PHV than their more mature counterparts might be due to the well‐established disruptions in motor performance that occur during maturation . Moreover, these data reinforce the importance of categorizing youths by maturation rather than chronological age y . Nonetheless, the reliability of left and right limb, bilateral and relative peak force for the mid‐post‐PHV group was still acceptable and thus typical changes in strength can still be detected.…”

“…34 Moreover, these data reinforce the importance of categorizing youths by maturation rather than chronological age y. 11,41 Nonetheless, the reliability of left and right limb, bilateral and relative peak force for the midpost-PHV group was still acceptable and thus typical changes in strength can still be detected.…”

The “Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology” Journal Club Series: Highlights of Recent Papers in Pediatric Exercise

“…The study of Moran et al [19] addressed this question. The authors examined and compared the effects of resistance training-related adaptations on measures of strength (i.e., handgrip peak force and isometric mid-thigh pull peak force) and power (i.e., vertical jump) between pre-and post-pubertal individuals.…”

“…The authors examined and compared the effects of resistance training-related adaptations on measures of strength (i.e., handgrip peak force and isometric mid-thigh pull peak force) and power (i.e., vertical jump) between pre-and post-pubertal individuals. The strength of this study is that both experimental groups were compared with matched control groups to effectively account for changes due to maturation [19]. After eight weeks of training, results showed that strength and power were trainable to different degrees in pre-pubertal and post-pubertal individuals.…”

“…More specifically, the authors demonstrated greater training-related adaptations in post-compared to pre-pubertal individuals. Moran et al [19] attributed the lower magnitude of improvements to the fewer pathways of adaptation in the pre-pubertal group (i.e., mainly in the level of neural drive) compared to the post-pubertal group (i.e., neural and morphological factors). However, the underlying mechanisms leading to different training-related adaptations between pre-pubertal and post-pubertal individuals have to be further explored in a similarly designed study research.…”