Introduction The correlation between maximal strength (the ability to produce maximal force) and power production is well documented (Schmidtbleicher, 1992; Stone 2002). Power (work/ time, or force x velocity) is a pre-requisite physical characteristic underpinning many aspects of sporting performance (acceleration, directional change, jumping actions and sports-specific skills: Hoff et al, 2001; Newton et al., 1997, Wisloff et al., 2004). The extant literature demonstrates that weight lifting movements (Snatch & Clean, and associated derivates of weightlifting [the practice of these movements in a sports context; Stone, Pierce, Sands & Stone, 2005]) may be superior training modalities for the development of Power (Stone, 2000; Tricoli et al., 2005). Previous papers (Brewer et al., 2005; Stone et al., 2002) have illustrated the importance of multi-joint, multi-muscle lifting actions that replicate the biomechanical demands of sports specific movements (Brewer, 2003): This includes replication of joint ranges of movement (Strength gain is specific to the angle at which training occurs: Durstine & Davis, 2001), incorporation of co-ordinated (simultaneous) triple extensions of the ankle, knee & hip (Brewer, 2005, 2005a; Peirce, 2005), countermovements (Stone, 2000) & very explosive actions (Stone, 2000; Tricoli, 2005). Weight lifting is also a medium that allows all of these factors to be progressively overloaded in an easily controlled manner in a skilled individual, through the addition of more weight to the bar whilst maintaining the velocity of the movement being performed (Hoffman et al., 2004). Similarly, these exercises, which have a large skill-based component, would appear to facilitate better development across a range of performance spectrums (Young et al., 2002), due to the motor control requirements of complex, explosive actions. This neural control facilitates optimal motor units recruitment, sequencing and therefore maximisation of rate of force development (Garhammer & Gregor, 1992). Rate of force development is crucial in the development of acceleration capabilities in performers (Schmidtbleicher, 1992), and this can be a determining factor in producing superior athletic performance. Most critical aspects of sports performance occur in very short time frames (of less than 250ms: Plisk, 2001; Andersen, 2005). If athletes can be trained to produce greater forces within this time frame, then greater acceleration capabilities and therefore greater velocities can be achieved. However, if there is to be an effective transfer of training effect between sports performance and training actions, the optimum techniques that allow Peak Rate of force development need to be utilised (Brewer, Favre & Low, 2005). As with any skilled movement, it is also important that optimal technique is taught from the outset of skills learning (before bad habits become ingrained in learned motor programmes) in order to enable effective training movements to occur (Brewer, 2005). In terms of weightlifting movements, this means the athlete learning the double knee bend movement.
© Copyright 2008 Alle Rechte vorbehalten.