Within recent years, strength training involving the modalities of heavy elastic bands and weighted chains has received widespread recognition and increased popularity. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a seven week heavy elastic band and weighted chain program on maximum muscular strength and maximum power in the bench press exercise. METHODS: Thirty six (n=36) healthy males 18-30 years old from the Robert Morris University football team volunteered to participate in this study. During the first week, predicted one repetition maximum (1RM) bench press and a five repetition (5RM) maximum speed bench press tests were conducted. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups (n=12): elastic band (EB), weighted chain (WC) and control (C). Subjects were oriented to the elastic band (EB) and chain weighted (WC) bench press prior to pre testing. During weeks 2 through 8 of the study, subjects were required to follow the resistance training program designed for using the EB and WC for seven weeks. All other components of normal spring training and conditioning remained the same. Means and standard deviations of the predicted 1RM bench press and 5RM speed bench press were computed in the first and ninth week of the program. A two factor (method X time) analysis was applied to identify significant differences between the training groups. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: Results indicated a significant time (*p < 0.05), but no group effect for both predicted 1RM (kg) and 5RM peak power tests (watts). Although not significant, results did show greater improvements in the EB and WC groups compared to control when the two highest and greatest values were selected regarding peak power. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the use of EB and WC in conjunction with a general seven week off season strength and conditioning program can increase overall maximum upper body strength in a sample of Div 1-AA football players. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The implementation of heavy elastic bands and weighted chains into a strength and conditioning regimen may result in potential gains in muscular strength and power. These types of training modalities add a unique training style and more flexibility in respect to exercise prescription for athletes and strength practitioners.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-08042006-102934 |
| Date | 28 September 2006 |
| Creators | Ghigiarelli, Jamie Jude |
| Contributors | Robert Robertson, Fredric Goss, James Irrgang, Elizabeth Nagle |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-08042006-102934/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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