Powerlifting is the sport of maximal effort of back squat, bench press and deadlift. The purpose of this study was to identify the ideal body composition of female powerlifters. Body composition measurements were taken on the day of competition on women who competed in a raw powerlifting meet in United States Powerlifting Federation using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Participants’ powerlifting experience ranged from novice to world-class lifters. One hundred ninetyive women completed the study and ages ranged from 18 to 75 years old. Mean body fat percentage (BF%) of all powerlifters was 31.21% and body mass index was 26.68. Results showed an increase in BF% as weight classes increased from 47 kg to 84+ kg weight class. Novice lifters had 34 BF% and elite lifters had 31.1 BF% Women who had a high BF% could lift more based on their powerlifting total. Body composition varied among the women powerlifters.

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The abstract is available in the Medicine & Sports & Exercise.

Countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ) performance may be acutely facilitated via potentiation (PAP) due to central and peripheral factors. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of two methods of PAP in trained weightlifters (n=16); group 1: stronger (n=7) and group 2: weaker (n=9) upon unweighted countermovement jumps (CMVJs) over a 15 minute time period. METHODS: A series of maximal unweighted CMVJs were performed prior to, then at, 30, 60, 120, 180, 300, 480, 660, 780, and 900 seconds following two conditions: isometric mid-thigh clean pulls (C1) and dynamic mid-thigh clean pulls (C2). Dependent variables included, jump height (JH, cm), peak power (PP, W), peak velocity (PV, m·s-1), and peak force (PF, N). RESULTS: A series of repeated measures ANOVA: conditions (2); time points (10); groups (2) were performed on JH, PP, PV, and PF (p>.05). Significant main effects for JH existed by condition (C1>C2) (p=.001, ES=.571, 1-β=.979, mean diff=.053cm), group (G1>G2) (p=.018, ES=.339, 1-β=.702, mean diff=.053), and time (60s>900s, 120s>900s, 180s>900s) (p=.014, ES=.148, 1-β=.910).Within subjects main effects for JH were seen for the stronger group for JH by condition (C1>C2) (p=.055, ES=.757, 1-β=.947, mean diff=.053cm), and weaker group by condition (C1>C2) (p=.025, ES=.487, 1-β=.676, mean diff=.054cm). Significant main effects existed for PP by condition (C1>C2) (p=.000, ES=.631, 1-β=.995, mean diff=427.9W), group (G1>G2) (p=.008, ES=.405, 1-β=.819, mean diff=1660.1W), and time (60s>480s, 60s>660s, 60s>780s, 60s>900s>120s>900s, 180s>480s, 180s>660s, 180s>780s) (p=.000, ES=.355, 1-β=1.00, mean diff=240.1W ).Within subjects main effects for PP were seen for the stronger group for condition (C1>C2) (p=.055, ES=.761, 1-β=.951, mean diff=516.8W), and time (120s>900s) (p=.000, ES=.471,1-β=.999, mean diff=319.5W). In the weaker group; significant main effects by condition (C1>C2) (p=.025, ES=.485, 1-β=.672, mean diff=339.1W) and time (120s>900s, 180s>480s, 180s>900s, 300s>900s) (p=.003, ES=.281, 1-β=.963, mean diff=319.5W). Significant main effects were seen for jump PV by condition (C1>C2) (p=.001, ES=.536,1-β=.962, mean diff=.177 m·s-1), group (G1>G2) (p=.022, ES=.320, 1-β=.665, mean diff=.298m/s) and by time (60s>900s, 120s>900s, 180s>900s) (p=.016, ES=.145, 1-β=.904). Within subjects main effects for jump PV in the stronger group by condition (C1>C2) (p=.007, ES=.727, 1-β=.911, mean diff=.165m/s), and time (120s>900s) (p=.036, ES=.269, 1-β=.840, mean diff=.073 m·s-1). In the weaker group there were significant main effects for jump PV by condition (C1>C2) (p=.028, ES=.474, 1-β=.654, mean diff=.188 m·s-1). A significant main effect for jump PF by group (G1>G2) (p=.014, ES=.363, 1-β=.747, mean diff=647.0N) and time (60s>baseline) (p=.05, ES=.122, 1-β=.824, mean diff=71.0N) was seen. Within subjects, a significant main effect for jump PF in the weaker group by time (60s>780s) (p=.012, ES=.247, 1-β=.919). There were no significant interactions for any of the dependent variables (p >.05). CONCLUSION: Isometric mid-thigh clean pulls appear to have a greater potentiating effect than dynamic mid-thigh pulls on PP and PV during subsequent CMVJ0’s, and stronger weightlifters tend to have a more favorable response to both conditions. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Whole-body isometric movements may be a more effective at eliciting a potentiation response than dynamic movements in strength and power athletes.

<p>Imagery is an individual and cognitive process (Morris, Spittle, & Watt, 2005). This study has therefore qualitatively examined following objectives: (1) elite powerlifters imagery experiences and (2) if elite powerlifters use imagery deliberately. Five elite powerlifters participated in the study (3 men, 2 women), they were 21-37 years old (M = 27.6; SD = 6.1). The Individual Profile of Imagery Experiences in Sport (IPIES; Weibull, 2008b) was modified and used to meet the objectives for the study. Imagery was used by all elite powerlifters. Several imagery patterns were experienced, and the most common one was <em>Good lift. </em>A few imagery patterns were used by more than one individual; they were however experienced in different ways.<em> </em>The most common purpose was to increase motivation. Through imagery the powerlifters experienced both positive and negative effects. The negative effect was reported in spontaneous imagery, which was experienced by three powerlifters. Deliberate practice was categorized from several imagery patterns experienced by three powerlifters. This study supports the Analytical framework of imagery experiences (Weibull, in press).</p> / <p>Visualisering är en individuell, inre kognitiv process (Morris, Spittle, & Watt, 2005). Denna studie har därför kvalitativt undersökt följande syften: (1) elitstyrkelyftares visualiseringsupplevelser samt (2) om elitstyrkelyftare använder visualisering avsiktligt. I studien deltog 5 elitstyrkelyftare (3 män, 2 kvinnor) som var 21-37 år gamla (M = 27.6; SD = 6.1). Individual Profile of Imagery Experiences in Sport (IPIES; Weibull, 2008b) modifierades och användes för att uppnå studiens syften. Visualisering användes av samtliga styrkelyftare. Flera olika visualiseringsmönster upplevdes, vanligast var <em>Bra lyft. </em>Vissa visualiseringsmönster upplevdes av flera styrkelyftare, dock på olika sätt. Vanligaste syftet för visualiseringsanvändande var att öka motivation. Visualisering upplevdes ge både positiva och negativa effekter. Negativa effekter upplevdes av spontan visualisering som rapporterades av tre styrkelyftare. Ett antal visualiseringsmönster klassificerades som avsiktlig träning hos tre styrkelyftare. Denna studie stödjer den Analytiska referensramen för visualiseringsupplevelser (Weibull, i tryck).</p>

Imagery is an individual and cognitive process (Morris, Spittle, &amp; Watt, 2005). This study has therefore qualitatively examined following objectives: (1) elite powerlifters imagery experiences and (2) if elite powerlifters use imagery deliberately. Five elite powerlifters participated in the study (3 men, 2 women), they were 21-37 years old (M = 27.6; SD = 6.1). The Individual Profile of Imagery Experiences in Sport (IPIES; Weibull, 2008b) was modified and used to meet the objectives for the study. Imagery was used by all elite powerlifters. Several imagery patterns were experienced, and the most common one was Good lift. A few imagery patterns were used by more than one individual; they were however experienced in different ways. The most common purpose was to increase motivation. Through imagery the powerlifters experienced both positive and negative effects. The negative effect was reported in spontaneous imagery, which was experienced by three powerlifters. Deliberate practice was categorized from several imagery patterns experienced by three powerlifters. This study supports the Analytical framework of imagery experiences (Weibull, in press). / Visualisering är en individuell, inre kognitiv process (Morris, Spittle, &amp; Watt, 2005). Denna studie har därför kvalitativt undersökt följande syften: (1) elitstyrkelyftares visualiseringsupplevelser samt (2) om elitstyrkelyftare använder visualisering avsiktligt. I studien deltog 5 elitstyrkelyftare (3 män, 2 kvinnor) som var 21-37 år gamla (M = 27.6; SD = 6.1). Individual Profile of Imagery Experiences in Sport (IPIES; Weibull, 2008b) modifierades och användes för att uppnå studiens syften. Visualisering användes av samtliga styrkelyftare. Flera olika visualiseringsmönster upplevdes, vanligast var Bra lyft. Vissa visualiseringsmönster upplevdes av flera styrkelyftare, dock på olika sätt. Vanligaste syftet för visualiseringsanvändande var att öka motivation. Visualisering upplevdes ge både positiva och negativa effekter. Negativa effekter upplevdes av spontan visualisering som rapporterades av tre styrkelyftare. Ett antal visualiseringsmönster klassificerades som avsiktlig träning hos tre styrkelyftare. Denna studie stödjer den Analytiska referensramen för visualiseringsupplevelser (Weibull, i tryck).