Mechanics and Energetics of the Stretch-Shortening Cycle: A Stimulating Discussion

Schenau, G.J. van Ingen; Bobbert, Maarten F.; Haan, A. de

doi:10.1123/jab.13.4.484

Cited by 52 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…3). It has been proposed that the mechanisms leading to greater concentric power output and vertical jump performance following the eccentric phase may be inhibited in children due to lower muscle mass and limited force-producing capabilities [6,12,16]. A previous study from our laboratory demonstrated strong relationships between muscle CSA and passive musculotendinous stiffness [33], which is thought to reflect the amount of energy a muscle can absorb during the stretching phase.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Eccentric Pre-loading on Concentric Vertical Jump Performance in Young Female Athletes

Gillen

Shoemaker

Bohannon

et al. 2021

J. of SCI. IN SPORT AND EXERCISE

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Purpose This study examined changes in vertical jump performance with progressively greater eccentric pre-loading in relation to growth and development in young female athletes. Methods Twenty young female athletes ranging from 9 to 17 years old performed the following vertical jumps in random order: static jumps (SJs), counter-movement jumps (CMJs), and drop jumps (DJs) from drop heights of 20, 30, and 40 cm (DJ20, DJ30, and DJ40, respectively). Measurements included peak force (PF), peak rate of force development (RFD), peak power (PP), eccentric impulse (ECC), and concentric impulse (CON). Measurements of growth included age, maturity offset, height, body mass, fat-free mass, and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). Results PF increased from the SJ-DJ20 (P ≤ 0.009), then plateaued from DJ20-DJ40 (P = 1.000). RFD remained the same from SJ-CMJ (P = 1.000), increased from CMJ-DJ20 (P < 0.001), and plateaued from DJ20-DJ40 (P = 0.874). PP increased from the SJ-CMJ (P < 0.001), then plateaued from the CMJ-DJ40 (P ≥ 0.486). CON remained the same across all vertical jumps (P = 1.000), while ECC increased from the SJ-DJ40 (P ≤ 0.038). Jump height (JH) increased from the SJ-CMJ (P < 0.001), decreased from CMJ-DJ20 (P < 0.001), and plateaued from DJ20-DJ40 (P = 1.000). The change in PP from the SJ-CMJ (ΔCMJ-SJ) was related to all measurements of growth except CSA (r = 0.558-0.815). Conclusion Young females produced greater power during the CMJ than SJ, but equivalent power from the CMJ-DJ40, despite increases in ECC. Additionally, ΔCMJ-SJ was not related to CSA, which suggests other underlying mechanisms affect stretch-shortening cycle utilization in young female athletes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Eccentric Pre-loading on Concentric Vertical Jump Performance in Young Female Athletes

Gillen

Shoemaker

Bohannon

et al. 2021

J. of SCI. IN SPORT AND EXERCISE

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“…This coupling of an initial active lengthening of the musculotendinous unit confers an increase in the mechanical output during the subsequent shortening phase as evidenced by greater power outputs recorded during CMJ that incorporate the SSC compared to those during a static jump where the SSC is absent [4,5,6]. The mechanisms underpinning the enhanced mechanical output during movements incorporating the SSC include strain potential energy contributions, reflex activation, and alterations in the crossbridge dynamics prior to the shortening phase [3] and the mechanics of the movement task have been proposed as influencing the relative contributions of these different mechanisms [7]. However, plyometric ability, defined as the ability to utilize the SSC during movement tasks, has been shown to be a trainable characteristic with improvements realized following a period of resistance training [8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Plyometric Ability during Vertical Jumps Performed by Adults and Adolescents

Snyder

Munford

Connaboy

et al. 2018

Sports

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The purpose of this study was to compare different methods for assessing plyometric ability during countermovement (CMJ) and drop jumps (DJ) in a group of adults and adolescents. Ten resistance-trained adult men (age: 22.6 ± 1.6 years) and ten adolescent male basketball players (age: 16.5 ± 0.7 years) performed a CMJ and a DJ from a height of 0.40 m. Jump height (JH), contact time, normalized work (WNORM), and power output (PONORM) during the absorption and propulsion phases were calculated from force platforms and 3-D motion analysis data. Plyometric ability was assessed using the modified reactive strength index (RSIMOD during CMJ) and the reactive strength index (RSI during DJ) as well as three indices using propulsion time, propulsion work (PWI), and propulsion power. Adults jumped significantly higher than adolescents (mean difference [MD]: 0.05 m) while JH (MD: 0.05 m) and ground contact time (MD: 0.29 s) decreased significantly from CMJ to DJ. WNORM (MD: 4.2 J/kg) and PONORM (MD: 24.2 W/kg) during the absorption phase of CMJ were significantly less than these variables during the propulsion phases of the jumps. The reactive strength index variants increased significantly from the CMJ to DJ (MD: 0.23) while all other plyometric indices decreased significantly. Neither RSIMOD nor RSI contributed significantly to the prediction of JH during CMJ and DJ, respectively, while PWI was able to explain ≥68% of the variance in JH. Variants of the reactive strength index do not reflect the changes in mechanical variables during the ground contact phase of CMJ and DJ and may not provide an accurate assessment of plyometric ability during different vertical jumps.

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“…Aside from mechanisms associated with RFE, three other primary mechanisms have been proposed to contribute to the force/work of muscles in the shortening phase of SSCs: (1) the activation dynamics; (2) contributions of stretch reflexes; and (3) the storage and release of elastic energy (van Ingen Schenau et al. ,b). However, there is a lack of understanding how these different factors might contribute to the enhancement of performance of shortening contractions that are preceded by stretch in general, and specifically the possible role of RFE.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) revisited: residual force enhancement contributes to increased performance during fast SSCs of human m. adductor pollicis

et al. 2015

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The stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) occurs in most everyday movements, and is thought to provoke a performance enhancement of the musculoskeletal system. However, mechanisms of this performance enhancement remain a matter of debate. One proposed mechanism is associated with a stretch-induced increase in steady-state force, referred to as residual force enhancement (RFE). As yet, direct evidence relating RFE to increased force/work during SSCs is missing. Therefore, forces of electrically stimulated m. adductor pollicis (n = 14 subjects) were measured during and after pure stretch, pure shortening, and stretch-shortening contractions with varying shortening amplitudes. Active stretch (30°, ω = 161 ± 6°s−1) caused significant RFE (16%, P < 0.01), whereas active shortening (10°, 20°, and 30°; ω = 103 ± 3°s−1, 152 ± 5°s−1, and 170 ± 5°s−1) resulted in significant force depression (9–15%, P < 0.01). In contrast, after SSCs (that is when active stretch preceded active shortening) no force depression was found. Indeed for our specific case in which the shortening amplitude was only 1/3 of the lengthening amplitude, there was a remnant RFE (10%, P < 0.01) following the active shortening. This result indicates that the RFE generated during lengthening affected force depression when active lengthening was followed by active shortening. As conventional explanations, such as the storage and release of elastic energy, cannot explain the enhanced steady-state force after SSCs, it appears that the stretch-induced RFE is not immediately abolished during shortening and contributes to the increased force and work during SSCs.

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Mechanics and Energetics of the Stretch-Shortening Cycle: A Stimulating Discussion

Cited by 52 publications

References 35 publications

Effects of Eccentric Pre-loading on Concentric Vertical Jump Performance in Young Female Athletes

Effects of Eccentric Pre-loading on Concentric Vertical Jump Performance in Young Female Athletes

Assessing Plyometric Ability during Vertical Jumps Performed by Adults and Adolescents

The stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) revisited: residual force enhancement contributes to increased performance during fast SSCs of human m. adductor pollicis

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