Why fencers should bounce: a new method of movement to engage the stretch-shortening cycle

While teaching a heel first contact style of footwork in fencing (also referred to as toe contribution avoidance) is in keeping with long standing traditions, it is not conducive to today’s modern style of fast paced and explosive fencing. Equally, fencers towards the elite-end seem to be gradually adopting a more spring-based style, as their body progressively and organically transitions to “ball of the foot” based footwork, in order for them to fence competitively in the manner they have intuitively associated with success. Therefore, if from a young age fencers are taught to make full use of the stretch shortening cycle (SSC) via “bouncing” or simply by initiating movement via the ball of the foot, this will expedite the learning process. It will demonstrate to them how the SSC can be used to move at greater speed, cover greater distances when advancing, retreating and lunging, and conserve the much-needed energy required to compete over day long competitions. This paper details the mechanistic underpinnings of the SSC and its application to the modern day fencer

Stretching the spines of gymnasts: a review

Gymnastics is noted for involving highly specialized strength, power, agility and flexibility. Flexibility is perhaps the single greatest discriminator of gymnastics from other sports. The extreme ranges of motion achieved by gymnasts require long periods of training, often occupying more than a decade. Gymnasts also start training at an early age (particularly female gymnasts), and the effect of gymnastics training on these young athletes is poorly understood. One of the concerns of many gymnastics professionals is the training of the spine in hyperextension-the ubiquitous 'arch' seen in many gymnastics positions and movements. Training in spine hyperextension usually begins in early childhood through performance of a skill known as a back-bend. Does practising a back-bend and other hyperextension exercises harm young gymnasts? Current information on spine stretching among gymnasts indicates that, within reason, spine stretching does not appear to be an unusual threat to gymnasts' health. However, the paucity of information demands that further study be undertaken

Running versus strength-based warm-up : acute effects on isometric knee extension function

This study investigated the influence of two warm-up protocols on neural and contractile parameters of knee extensors. A series of neuromuscular tests including voluntary and electrically evoked contractions were performed before and after running- (R (WU); slow running, athletic drills, and sprints) and strength-based (S (WU); bilateral 90 degrees back squats, Olympic lifting movements and reactivity exercises) warm ups (duration ~40 min) in ten-trained subjects. The estimated overall mechanical work was comparable between protocols. Maximal voluntary contraction torque (+15.6%; P < 0.01 and +10.9%; P < 0.05) and muscle activation (+10.9 and +12.9%; P < 0.05) increased to the same extent after R (WU) and S (WU), respectively. Both protocols caused a significant shortening of time to contract (-12.8 and -11.8% after R (WU) and S (WU); P < 0.05), while the other twitch parameters did not change significantly. Running- and strength-based warm ups induce similar increase in knee extensors force-generating capacity by improving the muscle activation. Both protocols have similar effects on M-wave and isometric twitch characteristics

Current Concepts of Plyometric Exercises for the Lower Extremity

Many sport activities require explosive movements of the lower extremities. Athletes are returning back to competition following knee injuries and surgeries faster than anyone could have predicted 10 years ago. However, that has not always been in the best interest of the patient because of reinjury rates and not being able to return to the same premorbid level of activity. The ability of the clinician to return the athlete back quickly and safely is multifactorial and includes advances in surgical techniques and rehabilitation, such as the use of integrated open and closed kinetic chain exercises, proprioceptive training, neuromuscular reactive dynamic stability exercises, and plyometrics

Treinamento físico: considerações práticas e científicas Physical training: scientific and practical considerations

O treinamento físico é uma importante área de atuação profissional da Educação Física e do Esporte. Ela tem por objetivo precípuo, a melhoria do desempenho físico-esportivo através da aplicação de um processo organizado e sistemático composto por exercícios físicos. Nos últimos anos, os progressos tecnológicos e nos métodos de investigação científica nas diferentes subáreas relacionadas ao treinamento físico trouxeram um avanço significativo na obtenção deste objetivo. Neste artigo será discutido, do ponto de vista acadêmico-científico e também da prática profissional, o estado da arte do conhecimento associado à avaliação do treinamento, ao controle da carga de treinamento, aos modelos de organização da carga de treinamento e ao desenvolvimento das capacidades motoras. Esperamos que ao final, o leitor possa ter um bom entendimento destes diferentes componentes, como eles contribuem para a modificação do desempenho motor e como aplicá-los para a elaboração, implementação, avaliação e reformulação de programas de treinamento físico.<br>Physical training is an important field of work for the Physical Education and Sport professional. Its main goal is to develop the physical capacity and sports performance of an individual by means of an organized and systematic application of physical exercises. In the past years, the technological progress in the scientific investigation within the different disciplines related to physical training have contributed a great deal towards the accomplishment of such goal. In this manuscript we discuss, from both an academic-scientific and from a practical application point-of-view, the state of the art of the knowledge associated with the physical training evaluation, loading control, loading scheming, and the development of physical abilities. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the different components of the physical training and how they contribute to the development of the physical performance as well as how to apply these concepts in the elaboration, implementation, and evaluation of physical training programs