In an attempt to determine the value of dry-land weight training on swimming performance, two groups of twenty four intercollegiate male swimmers were equated based upon pre-swimming performance, swim power values, stroke specialities, and collegiate swimming experience. At the start of a swimming season there were no significant differences (p>0.05) between the swim training group (SWIM, N=12) and the combined weight and swim training group (COMBO, N=12). Throughout the 13 weeks of their competitive swimming season, both SWIM and COMBO swam together six days a week. In addition, the COMBO engaged in a weight training program three days a week between the third and eleventh weeks (for eight weeks) of the season. The weight training program, using free weights, was intended to simulate arm actions and muscle actions similar to those used during front crawl swimming. Both COMBO and SWIM groups had significant but similar power gains (p<0.05) as measured on the biokinetic swim bench and during a tethered swim. Swimmers in both groups experienced a significant (p<0.05) increase in competitive swim performance from 1991 to 1992 (0.89 ± 0.60% in COMBO and 0.87 ± 0.4Q% in SWIM) whereas no change in distance per stroke (p>0.05) was observed throughout the course of this investigation. Mean total testosterone levels were not altered during the weight training period in either group. No significant (p>0.05) differences were found between the groups in any of the swim power and swimming performance tests. In this investigation, dry-land weight training did not improve swimming performance despite the fact that the COMBO was able to increase the weights used during strength training by 25 to 35%. The lack of positive transfer between dry-land strength gains and swimming propulsive force may be due to the specificity of training. / Human Performance Laboratory

The use of creative monohydrate (CM) supplementation by athletes to increase strength and lean body mass has great anecdotal support. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to document the chronic effects of CM supplementation on resistance trained athletes. Sixteen collegiate football players were randomly separated into a CM and placebo (P) group. Supplementation in capsule form consisted of 5 g CM or P per day throughout a 10 week resistance training program. Pre- and Post-testing consisted of 1) Weight. 2) Body fat estimation. 3) One repetition maximal bench press, squat, and power clean. 4) Cybex testing was also included. Results revealed the CM group was able to significantly increase measures of strength and power, as well as increase body mass without a change in body fat %, while the P group showed no significant changes. Data was analyzed using a paired t-test and ANCOVA (p < 0.05). CM PPrePostPrePostBody Wt (lbs)234.5 + 34.41237.37 + 31.34*215.57 ± 55.12213.0 ± 48.897-site fat %15.37+5.5116.68+6.5813.52 + 10.0913.58+8.33Bench Press (lbs)328.75 + 27.87- 340.0 + 27.65*287.14 + 58.94283.57 + 48.71Squats (lbs)532.86 + 130.92592.14 + 123.86*489.17 + 149.81512.50 ± 161.89Power Cleans271.88 + 47.73288.75 + 45.34*246.00 + 33.99241.00 + 64.65* Denotes significant measureThe data from this study supports the anecdotal claims. Further, contrary to what would be expected with long term resistance training alone, the placebo group failed to increase strength and power measures. This suggests that the resistance program lacked sufficient stimuli or that overtraining might have occurred. However, subjects ingesting CM were able to increase strength and power measures. Thus, it appears that CM may also serve as a buffer to overtraining. / School of Physical Education

It was hypothesized that the number of familiarization sessions may have an effect on the pre-testing measures recorded before a training study. This study considered a group of children (8-12 years old) placed into familiarization (FM, 4 sessions) and non-familiarization (NFM, 2 sessions) groups. Strength values in a vertical chest press and horizontal leg press were recorded for both groups. The FM group displayed strength increases in the chest press, while both groups increased leg press strength (a 0.05). The FM group also displayed significant increases over the NFM group in both exercises. The results demonstrated that, in the FM group, significant changes in chest press strength were made in the last two sessions while significant leg press changes were noted in the first two sessions. It can be concluded that the amount of familiarization sessions performed prior to testing can have an impact on pre-testing strength measures. / School of Physical Education

No description available.

Thesis (MAppSc) -- University of South Australia, 1997

[Truncated abstract] Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood (Reddihough & Collins, 2003). The most characteristic features of those with cerebral palsy are the physical disabilities that arise as a result of the brain lesion, including; spasticity, muscle weakness and atrophy, soft-tissue contracture and joint deformity. Strength training for young people with cerebral palsy aims to negate the debilitating effects of muscle weakness and improve function. Research need now be dedicated to investigating the mechanisms of strength-training, in an effort to optimise training routines and the prescription of strengthening protocols. The principal goal of the present research was to investigate the impact of eccentric strength training. A novel eccentrically based exercise intervention for the upper limb was implemented to ascertain the benefits on: (i) isokinetic torque development, (ii) the length-tension relationship of muscle (iii) EMG activity, (iv) 3D movement kinematics and (v) psychosocial benefits for children and their families. The analysis of changes in movement kinematics required the development of a reliable and repeatable upper limb 3D biomechanical model for clinical use, constituting chapter three of this thesis. ... This paper advocates the inclusion of measures of work/bodymass and width of the torque-angle relationship as important determinates of the functional integrity of muscle, and the use of EMG activation patterns to characterise neuromuscular mechanisms of training induced changes. The sixth paper aims to determine the effects of the eccentric training programme on upper limb 3D kinematics during functional tasks and to determine if these improvements were also evident on the Melbourne Assessment. Little change was evident in upper arm kinematics following the short-term eccentric training programme, however there was evidence in support of a decrease in compensatory movements at the thorax. The Melbourne Assessment failed to detect any significant changes in performance of functional upper limb tasks following the training programme. The results suggest that 3D kinematic analysis of upper body movement is a sensitive tool for the assessment of interventions for pathological populations. The aim of the seventh paper presented within this body of work was to ascertain the psychosocial outcomes for children with cerebral palsy and their families following the eccentric training programme. This study identified four main themes in the parent and participant responses to the programme; changes in physical health, psychosocial health, changes in activity and participation, and the impact of the psychosocial health of the child on the family were important to participants and their families. This paper reinforces the multi-dimensional nature of the benefits of strength-training, and advocates the assessment of interventions from perspective of the ICF (WHO, 2001). This work has established the reliability of an upper limb 3D biomechanical model for clinical use, and determined the neuromuscular, kinematic, functional and psychosocial outcomes of an upper limb eccentric training programme for adolescents with cerebral palsy and their families.

Thesis (M.S.)--Springfield College, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-69). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2008. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-48). Also available via Humboldt Digital Scholar.