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Optimizing Strength and Resistance Training: Best Practices Applied to Sports...
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Optimizing Strength and Resistance Training: Best Practices Applied to Sports Disciplines and Performance—2nd Edition

A special issue of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (ISSN 2411-5142). This special issue belongs to the section "Athletic Training and Human Performance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 June 2025 | Viewed by 1307

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Luis Manuel Martínez Aranda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Physical and Sports Performance Research Centre, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain
2. SEJ-680: Science-Based Training (SBT) Research Group, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain
Interests: strength; resistance exercise; isoinertial training; training optimization; physical performance; skeletal muscle; sports injuries; sports medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Javier Raya-González

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Grupo de Investigación en Deporte y Educación Física para el Desarrollo Personal y Social (GIDEPSO), Department of Specific Didactics, Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Interests: strength; resistance exercise; isoinertial training; training optimization; physical performance; sports injuries; sports medicine; team sports performance; workload monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Strength training plays a fundamental role in enhancing the functional and muscular performance of the human body. Physical conditioning, namely the development of the ability to generate force and muscle power in a specific context and moment, as well as neuromuscular and structural adaptations, benefit from optimized strength training. This Special Issue will explore different methodologies, techniques and practices related to strength training, focusing on the optimization of training processes in order to achieve maximum performance, highlighting the need for careful planning for each individual and discipline.

In this regard, the correct application and optimization of strength training benefit not only practitioners of weight training disciplines, but also athletes in individual and team sports. In these contexts, the careful and precise application of methodology and training optimization becomes crucial, with appropriate techniques being employed to maximize benefits and minimize the risk of injuries in athletes.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the best practices and techniques applied to strength and resistance training, contributing to continuous advancement in sports performance optimization. Additionally, it seeks to provide valuable information for athletes, coaches and physical conditioning professionals. Original research papers and literature reviews are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Luis Manuel Martínez Aranda
Dr. Javier Raya-González
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. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1600 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

  • skeletal muscle
  • muscle hypertrophy
  • resistance exercise
  • eccentric training
  • power output
  • plyometrics
  • strength adaptations
  • training volume
  • sports performance
  • conditioning

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 245 KiB  
Article
Differences in Strength, Muscle Work, and Hamstring/Quadriceps Ratio in Professional and Junior Elite Basketball Players According to Sex
by Raúl Coto Martín, Néstor Pérez Mallada, María Jesús Martínez Beltrán, Lucía Cuéllar Marín, Pablo José Borrás Luján, Oscar Otín Arroyo, María Ana Sáenz-Nuño and Juan Manuel Arribas-Marín
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020204 - 2 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is more prevalent in young athletes and women. A deficit of knee flexor strength and a H/Q strength ratio below 0.6 in athletes are risk factors. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to determine if [...] Read more.
Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is more prevalent in young athletes and women. A deficit of knee flexor strength and a H/Q strength ratio below 0.6 in athletes are risk factors. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to determine if there are differences in the strength of the knee musculature, joint work, and H/Q ratio between professional and junior elite basketball players and sexes, since there are differences in the incidence of ACL injuries between these groups. Methods: Forty-three professional (27 male and 16 female) and 42 junior elite (28 male and 14 female) basketball players were evaluated. Dynamometric knee flexion and extension measurements were performed on both lower limbs at three angular velocities: 30°/s, 120°/s, and 180°/s. Concentric knee flexion and extension strength variables were measured in Newtons, the strength ratio between flexors and extensors in H/Q ratio, and muscle work (product of force times displacement) in Joules. Comparisons of the measured variables were made between categories and sexes. Results: Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between categories (professional and junior) in all measured strength parameters as well as in joint work. No differences were found between categories in the H/Q ratios. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between sexes in most measured strengths and joint work. However, no differences were found in most of the H/Q ratios. Female basketball players have lower values of strength and muscle work than male players, however, in the H/Q ratio data there are no differences between the two groups. The same occurs between junior and professional athletes. Conclusions: The authors conclude that flexor and extensor strength values should be analyzed in isolation and not in terms of the H/Q ratio. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Strength and Resistance Training: Best Practices Applied to Sports Disciplines and Performance—2nd Edition)
17 pages, 528 KiB  
Article
Determining the Effects of a 6-Week Training Intervention on Reactive Strength: A Single-Case Experimental Design Approach
by Benjamin Southey, Dirk Spits, Damien Austin, Mark Connick and Emma Beckman
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020191 - 26 May 2025
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Abstract
Objectives: Single-case experimental designs (SCEDs) provide a robust way to observe adaptations to training in highly specific populations. Furthermore, they provide unique insights into inter-participant variance in responses to interventions, which traditional randomized control trials cannot obtain. However, there is limited sports [...] Read more.
Objectives: Single-case experimental designs (SCEDs) provide a robust way to observe adaptations to training in highly specific populations. Furthermore, they provide unique insights into inter-participant variance in responses to interventions, which traditional randomized control trials cannot obtain. However, there is limited sports science literature that has applied this methodology to assess the effectiveness of training interventions. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the individual and combined changes to reactive strength following a 6-week strength and plyometric training intervention. Methods: A non-concurrent multiple baseline SCED was used, where four participants completed weekly 10/5 repeated jump (RJ), drop jump (DJ), and loaded squat jumps during a 5–7-week baseline phase and a 6-week intervention phase. The intervention consisted of traditional resistance and plyometric training. Results: The results found inter-participant variance in changes to reactive strength, with some individuals having significant improvements whilst others declined. The combined results found that during the intervention, the reactive strength index (RSI) of the RJ significantly decreased (baseline: 2.15 vs. intervention: 2.0) whilst no change in DJ occurred. This led to a significant increase in the reactive quality ratio (RQR) (baseline: 1.02 vs. intervention: 1.08). Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of considering individual responses to training reactive strength rather than cohort observations alone, and the SCED is a viable methodology to achieve this. Practitioners should consider exercise selection, maximum strength levels and responsiveness of individuals when prescribing plyometric exercise to improve high and low amplitude reactive strength qualities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Strength and Resistance Training: Best Practices Applied to Sports Disciplines and Performance—2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 4754 KiB  
Article
Effects of a Low-Volume Kettlebell Strength Program on Vertical Jump and Isometric Strength in Dancers: A Pilot Study
by Yaiza Taboada-Iglesias, Iria Filgueira-Loureiro, Xoana Reguera-López-de-la-Osa and Águeda Gutiérrez-Sánchez
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020130 - 11 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Objectives: The jumping ability and strength of the lower limbs in dancers are fundamental to their artistic performance. Similarly, the correct placement of the various leg positions, such as parallel and dehors, are essential aspects of dance technique. We aimed to [...] Read more.
Objectives: The jumping ability and strength of the lower limbs in dancers are fundamental to their artistic performance. Similarly, the correct placement of the various leg positions, such as parallel and dehors, are essential aspects of dance technique. We aimed to analyze the effectiveness of a modified strength program on jumping capacity in parallel and dehors, and to assess whether this type of training improves the isometric strength of dancers. Methods: An experimental research study was conducted with pre- and post-intervention assessments on a group of nine semi-professional dancers (seven women and two men) (X = 20 years and DT = 6.67), with an average weight of 62.12 ± 7.38 kg and a height of 1.67 ± 0.05 m. Body composition, isometric strength in the lower limbs, and vertical jump capacity with feet in parallel and in the dehors position were analyzed. The “Simple and Sinister” kettlebell training protocol was implemented, reducing the number of sessions and the duration of the program while incorporating a progression in load. Results: Significant changes were observed in both the parallel jump and the dehors position; however, body composition and isometric strength, although showing higher values at the end of the intervention for all variables, did not demonstrate significant improvements. Thus, while in the pre-intervention phase, jump capacity was associated with multiple variables, in the post-intervention phase, an inverse association was found only with the percentage of body fat. Conclusions: A 12-week training program with two sessions per week is sufficient to achieve significant changes in the jumping ability of dancers, but not in the isometric strength of the lower limbs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Strength and Resistance Training: Best Practices Applied to Sports Disciplines and Performance—2nd Edition)
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