Load-Power Relationships for High-Speed Knee Extension Exercise.

Chen, L, Davison, SW, Selimovic, EA, Mueller, RE, Beatty, SR, Carter, KA, Parmar, PJ, Symons, TB, Pantalos, GM, and Caruso, JF. Load-power relationships for high-speed knee extension exercise. J Strength Cond Res 33(6): 1480-1487, 2019-Seventy subjects did 4 knee extensor workouts with their left legs to assess load-power relationships produced on a high-speed trainer (HST; Newnan, GA, USA). Each workout is composed of 4 sets done on the HST at a different load (1, 4.4, 6.7, 9 kg). A Latin Squares Design determined load sequence per workout. Average power (AP) and peak power (PP) and those same values normalized to body mass (BM) and fat-free mass (AP/BM, PP/BM, AP/FFM, PP/FFM) were each analyzed with 2 (gender) × 4 (load) analysis of variances, with repeated measures for load. We assessed relationships between normalized loads and AP and PP values with correlation coefficients. Average power results revealed a significant interaction, with men > women at 9 kg. Peak power/body mass also yielded an interaction, with women > men at 6.7 and 9 kg. Average power/fat-free mass and PP/FFM each produced interactions, with women > men at 4.4, 6.7, and 9 kg. Correlation coefficients showed significant (r = 0.80-0.82) relationships between normalized loads and AP and PP values. In conclusion, the very low inertial resistance to initiate each repetition on this novel device may in part explain our PP/BM, AP/FFM, PP/FFM results, in which higher values were achieved by women. Our practical applications imply that the low inertial resistance for HST repetitions negates male size and strength advantages typically seen when power is measured.

Musculoskeletal Outcomes from Chronic High-Speed, High-Impulse Resistance Exercise.

While bones and muscles adapt to mechanical loading, it appears that very specific types of stimuli must be applied to achieve osteogenesis. Our study assessed musculoskeletal outcomes to 30 training sessions on an Inertial Exercise Trainer (Newnan, GA). Subjects (n=13) performed workouts with their left leg, while their right served as an untreated control. Workouts entailed three 60-s sets each of knee extension, hip extension and calf press exercises, separated by 90-s rests. Before and after the 30 training sessions, subjects underwent strength tests (knee and ankle extensors of both legs), DEXA scans (hip, knee and ankles of both legs), and blood draws. After 30 training sessions 2×2 ANOVAs showed left leg peak torques rose significantly. 2×2 ANCOVAs, with bone scan area as a covariate, showed significant left leg calcaneal bone mineral content (+29%) and density (+33%) increases after 30 training sessions. A significant decline in C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen, a blood marker of bone resorption, also occurred after 30 training sessions. The Inertial Exercise Trainer's large volume of training session repetitions elicited high peak force, peak acceleration and impulses that likely provided a mechanical loading stimulus that evoked calcaneal accretion.