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Sport Science and Strength Training: Recent Advances, New Trends, and...
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Sport Science and Strength Training: Recent Advances, New Trends, and Applications

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 6795

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tom Comyns

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Guest Editor
Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Interests: biomechanics; strength and conditioning; motor learning; applied sport science
Dr. Chris Bishop

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
London Sport Institute, Middlesex University, London NW4 1RL, UK
Interests: sport; strength; jumping; athletic performance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will focus on recent advances, new trends, and applications of sport science and strength training. A central emphasis of this Special Issue is the application to the practical setting of recent advances and trends, together with research that explicitly outlines the key transformational impact of the research findings. This Special Issue will explore the link between science and practice and exemplify how research outcomes can impact the practical environment. This Special Issue is open to all disciplines within sport science, with a particular focus on recent advancements in strength training. The advancements in strength training can stem from the various disciplines in sport science and/or can take a multi-disciplinary approach. Research exploring technological advancements and their application within athletic environments can be incorporated into this Special Issue. By exploring the application of recent advancements and trends, this Special Issue aims to present a transformational perspective on how sport science and strength training can positively impact athletic performance. 

Dr. Tom Comyns
Dr. Chris Bishop
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • strength training
  • sport science
  • sport technology
  • strength and conditioning

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 231 KiB  
Article
Developing the Interdisciplinary Scope of Golf Strength and Conditioning Coaching: Learning from Practitioners’ Conceptualization and Use of Athletes’ Errors
by Callum Ferguson, Dave Collins and Howie J. Carson
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 1889; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15041889 - 12 Feb 2025
Viewed by 624
Abstract
Interdisciplinarity, characterized by the cohesive integration of knowledge across disciplines, is increasingly recognized as a feature of expert sports coaching practice. Concurrently, the importance of coaches’ decision-making regarding the role and use of athletes’ errors during training has been emphasized from an increasingly [...] Read more.
Interdisciplinarity, characterized by the cohesive integration of knowledge across disciplines, is increasingly recognized as a feature of expert sports coaching practice. Concurrently, the importance of coaches’ decision-making regarding the role and use of athletes’ errors during training has been emphasized from an increasingly interdisciplinary perspective. This study aimed to address the gap between current conceptualizations of effective training design and real-world application by seeking to (a) explore the current application of interdisciplinary knowledge and practice within golf strength and conditioning (S&C) support; (b) examine S&C coaches’ conceptualization of errors made by athletes in the golf S&C environment; (c) understand the role of golf S&C coaches in athlete development. This study used semi-structured interviews to explore eight golf S&C coaches’ (male = 7, female = 1, Mage = 37.8 ± 9.2 years, Mexperience = 9.3 ± 2.6 years) perspectives on and experiences of athletes’ errors and interdisciplinary integration. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings revealed that interdisciplinary knowledge integration is infrequent in golf S&C coaching despite practitioners’ recognition of the potential benefits for coaches and athletes. This lack of collaboration and knowledge across coaching domains is exemplified through practitioners’ simplistic conceptualization of athletes’ errors and narrow working scope regarding athlete support. In summary, the findings indicate a clear need for development within golf regarding interdisciplinary knowledge and practice pertaining to support provision. Specifically, encouraging a more developed conceptualization of athletes’ errors in alignment with advances in coaching science would be beneficial. Recommendations are made to support the integration of S&C knowledge across golf coaching domains and stress the importance of developing golf S&C practitioners’ psychosocial competencies during accreditation and professional development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Science and Strength Training: Recent Advances, New Trends, and Applications)
10 pages, 494 KiB  
Article
Force-Velocity Profile in Middle- and Long-Distance Athletes: Sex Effect and Impact on Endurance Performance Determinants
by Violeta Muñoz de la Cruz, Fernando González-Mohíno, Sergio Rodríguez-Barbero, Fernando Valero and José María González-Ravé
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1249; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031249 - 26 Jan 2025
Viewed by 966
Abstract
Background: Muscle strength plays a critical role in the performance of middle- and long-distance athletes. However, the vertical force–velocity (F–V) profile has not been studied in this population. The objectives of this study were twofold: (i) to characterize the F–V profile in middle- [...] Read more.
Background: Muscle strength plays a critical role in the performance of middle- and long-distance athletes. However, the vertical force–velocity (F–V) profile has not been studied in this population. The objectives of this study were twofold: (i) to characterize the F–V profile in middle- and long-distance athletes and (ii) to explore its relationship with physiological and biomechanical performance variables. Methods: Thirty-nine highly trained athletes (13 middle-distance and 26 long-distance athletes), comprising men (18) and women (21), participated in this study. Each athlete performed a squat-jump to determine their F–V profile, followed by two 5 min bouts of low-intensity running and a graded exercise test to assess physiological and kinematic parameters. Results: Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed in maximal estimated power (Pmax) and jump height between middle- and long-distance female athletes (21.20 ± 4.78 W·kg−1 vs. 15.80 ± 2.83 W·kg−1; 26.00 ± 0.05 cm vs. 19.50 ± 0.03 cm), and between male and female long-distance athletes (19.70 ± 2.87 W·kg−1; 24.10 ± 0.02 cm). Stride length during low intensity running showed significant correlations with Pmax (r = 0.340) and jump height (r = 0.374). Pmax was positively associated with running economy (RE) (r = 0.396) and VO2max (r = 0.346), and negatively correlated with F–V imbalance (FVimb) (r = −0.531). Conclusions: Middle- and long-distance athletes demonstrate similar F–V profiles; however, middle-distance athletes exhibit a rightward shift, resulting in higher Pmax and jump height, particularly among women. Nevertheless, F–V profile characteristics display only weak associations with physiological and kinematic variables which directly influence performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Science and Strength Training: Recent Advances, New Trends, and Applications)
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12 pages, 615 KiB  
Article
A Comparison of the Braking and Propulsion Phase Characteristics of Traditional and Accentuated Eccentric Loaded Back Squats in Resistance-Trained Women
by Brookelyn A. Campbell, Conor J. Cantwell, Lauren K. Marshall-Ciochon, Zachary S. Schroeder, Adam E. Sundh, Jack B. Chard, Christopher B. Taber and Timothy J. Suchomel
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 661; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15020661 - 11 Jan 2025
Viewed by 783
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the braking and propulsion force–time and barbell velocity characteristics between back squat sets performed using traditional (TRAD) or accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) in resistance-trained women. In total, 14 participants completed four separate testing sessions that [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to compare the braking and propulsion force–time and barbell velocity characteristics between back squat sets performed using traditional (TRAD) or accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) in resistance-trained women. In total, 14 participants completed four separate testing sessions that included a one repetition maximum (1RM) back squat and three squat testing sessions that used either TRAD or AEL. During the squat testing sessions, participants performed sets of three back squat repetitions using TRAD loads with 50, 60, 70, and 80% 1RM or performed the same loads with the addition of weight releasers that equated the total load to 100% (AEL-MAX) or 110% (AEL-SUPRA) 1RM during the eccentric phase of the first repetition of each set. Braking and propulsion mean force, duration, and impulse as well as mean and peak barbell velocity were examined across each back squat set. Significantly greater braking impulses were produced during the AEL conditions across all loads (p < 0.02), while greater braking mean force during AEL-SUPRA was produced compared to TRAD during with 50 and 60% 1RM (p < 0.02). There were no other significant differences in braking, propulsion, or barbell velocity that existed between different conditions (p > 0.05). AEL-MAX and AEL-SUPRA provide a greater braking stimulus compared to TRAD squats, while the propulsion phase may not be significantly impacted. Rapid and maximal force production may be favored by larger and smaller load spreads, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Science and Strength Training: Recent Advances, New Trends, and Applications)
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13 pages, 4057 KiB  
Article
No Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Following a Single Set of Plyometric or Flywheel Exercises in National Team Rugby Players
by Irineu Loturco, Lucas A. Pereira, Santiago Zabaloy, Valter P. Mercer, Túlio B. M. A. Moura, Tomás T. Freitas and Daniel Boullosa
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(21), 9786; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219786 - 25 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1593
Abstract
Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) is a key objective following regular warm-up routines, especially in sports that rely heavily on sprinting speed and power. Rugby is a team sport characterized by a range of repeated high-intensity efforts, irrespective of positional roles or match demands. [...] Read more.
Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) is a key objective following regular warm-up routines, especially in sports that rely heavily on sprinting speed and power. Rugby is a team sport characterized by a range of repeated high-intensity efforts, irrespective of positional roles or match demands. In this study, we examined and compared the effects of two different conditioning activities (CAs) on the power- and speed-related abilities of National Team rugby players. Thirteen male rugby union players sequentially performed countermovement jump (CMJ), 30 m sprint, and change-of-direction (COD) tests (pre-testing session) 5 min before executing either one set of six repetitions of 45 cm drop jumps or one set of six repetitions of flywheel eccentric-overload squats. In addition to the sport-specific tests, the muscle mechanical properties of the athletes were also assessed through the use of tensiomyography (TMG). At post-testing sessions conducted 5 and 10 min after the PAPE protocols, no significant changes were observed in any of the assessed variables, either in positions as backs or forwards. However, some meaningful variations were detected at the individual level when using the “true-changes” analysis. Despite some positive individual changes, it can be concluded that these specific protocols did not elicit the expected responses typically observed in other team-sport athletes. Practitioners are encouraged to implement more comprehensive (but not exhaustive) and tailored PAPE interventions prior to training sessions and competitions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Science and Strength Training: Recent Advances, New Trends, and Applications)
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13 pages, 2608 KiB  
Article
Validity and Reliability of a Commercially Available Inertial Sensor for Measuring Barbell Mechanics during Weightlifting
by Shyam Chavda, Ingo Sandau, Chris Bishop, Jiaqing Xu, Anthony N. Turner and Jason P. Lake
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(16), 7397; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14167397 - 21 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1760
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of a commercially available inertial measurement unit (Enode) for measuring barbell kinematics and kinetics during a snatch. In order to assess validity and within- and between-session reliability, thirteen competitive weightlifters conducted two snatches on [...] Read more.
This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of a commercially available inertial measurement unit (Enode) for measuring barbell kinematics and kinetics during a snatch. In order to assess validity and within- and between-session reliability, thirteen competitive weightlifters conducted two snatches on two separate occasions at 85% of their one-repetition maximum. The Enode sensor was attached to the barbell, with each lift recorded via the device’s native application concurrently with an 11-camera motion capture system. Passing–Bablok regression indicated fixed and proportional bias in some horizontal measures of barbell mechanics but showed no bias in all but one vertical variable. Collectively, this suggests that the Enode is a valid tool in the measurement of vertically derived, but not horizontally derived, variables from barbell kinematics. Within- and between-session reliability showed moderate to excellent ICCs, with trivial to small differences between repetitions and between sessions. However, between-session reliability showed lower levels of variability and, thus, may help coaches identify changes in technique over time (between sessions) with good accuracy. Overall the Enode offers a practical and affordable option for coaches seeking to monitor weightlifting technique in training environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Science and Strength Training: Recent Advances, New Trends, and Applications)
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