Specific Eccentric–Isokinetic Cluster Training Improves Static Strength Elements on Rings for Elite Gymnasts

Schärer, Christoph; Tacchelli, Lisa; Göpfert, Beat; Gross, Micah; Lüthy, Fabian; Taube, Wolfgang; Hübner, Klaus

doi:10.3390/ijerph16224571

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Specific Eccentric–Isokinetic Cluster Training Improves Static Strength Elements on Rings for Elite Gymnasts

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Department of Elite Sport, Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM), 2532 Magglingen, BE, Switzerland

Department of Neurosciences and Movement Sciences, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland

Department Biomedical Engineering (DBE), University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, BL, Switzerland

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(22), 4571; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224571

Received: 15 October 2019 / Revised: 11 November 2019 / Accepted: 15 November 2019 / Published: 18 November 2019

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports and Health)

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Abstract

In gymnastics, coaches are constantly searching for efficient training methods in order to improve the athletes’ performance. Therefore, in this study we aimed to investigate the effects of a novel, four-week, gymnastic-specific, eccentric–isokinetic (0.1 m/s) cluster training on a computer-controlled training device on the improvement of two static strength elements on rings (swallow and support scale). Nine elite male gymnasts participated in this study. Outcome parameters were maximum strength and strength endurance in maintaining the static position of both elements. After four weeks of training, specific maximum strength increased significantly (swallow: +4.1%; d = 0.85; p = 0.01; support scale: +3.6%; d = 2.47; p = 0.0002) and strength endurance tended to improve (swallow: +104.8%; d = 0.60; p = 0.07; support scale: +26.8%; d = 0.27; p = 0.19). Our results demonstrate that top athletes can considerably improve ring-specific strength and strength endurance in only four weeks. We assumed that the high specificity but also the unfamiliar stimulus of slow eccentric movements with very long times under maximal muscle tension led to these improvements. We suggest to use this type of training periodically and during phases in which the technical training load is low. View Full-Text

Keywords: strength training; eccentric; isokinetic; upper limbs; artistic gymnastics; rings; males

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Schärer, C.; Tacchelli, L.; Göpfert, B.; Gross, M.; Lüthy, F.; Taube, W.; Hübner, K. Specific Eccentric–Isokinetic Cluster Training Improves Static Strength Elements on Rings for Elite Gymnasts. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 4571. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224571

AMA Style

Schärer C, Tacchelli L, Göpfert B, Gross M, Lüthy F, Taube W, Hübner K. Specific Eccentric–Isokinetic Cluster Training Improves Static Strength Elements on Rings for Elite Gymnasts. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16(22):4571. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224571

Chicago/Turabian Style

Schärer, Christoph, Lisa Tacchelli, Beat Göpfert, Micah Gross, Fabian Lüthy, Wolfgang Taube, and Klaus Hübner. 2019. "Specific Eccentric–Isokinetic Cluster Training Improves Static Strength Elements on Rings for Elite Gymnasts" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 22: 4571. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224571

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Specific Eccentric–Isokinetic Cluster Training Improves Static Strength Elements on Rings for Elite Gymnasts

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