CHANGES IN MUSCLE STRENGTH AND SPEED OF AN UNLOADED MOVEMENT AFTER VARIOUS TRAINING-PROGRAMS

The effect of three different training programmes on the maximal speed of an unloaded movement (a karate punch) was studied. Three movement variables were selected: maximal speed of the hand (νh,max), maximal speed of the shoulder (νs,max) and elbow extension speed {Mathematical expression} simultaneous with νh,max. The programmes were: training group 1 (TG 1, n = 8) -karate students, dynamic heavy progressive resistance exercise (incline situp and incline bench press) + punch bag exercise; training group 2 (TG 2, n = 8) - karate students, punch bag training; training group 3 (TG 3, n = 5) - no karate experience, dynamic heavy progressive resistance exercise (as in TG 1). The movement variables were calculated from chrono-cyclo photographic recordings of the punches (100 Hz). The level of significance was set at 5%. Sixteen weeks of training gave the following results: significant increases in dynamic strength in all the training groups (14%-53%). In TG 1 the νh, max increased significantly from 8.49 m·s-1, SD 1.19 to 9.35 m·s-1, SD 1.29 (10%); νs,max increased significantly in TG 1 by 32% (2.18 m·s-1, SD 0.56 to 2.87 m·s-1, SD 0.98) and in TG 2 by 14% (2.40 m·s-1, SD 0.61 to 2.74 m·s-1, SD 0.52), and in TG 3 {Mathematical expression} at νh, max increased significantly from 28.6 rad · s-1, SD 4.3 to 32.2 rad·s-1, SD 4.5 (13%). No significant relationships between the changes in maximal muscle strength and the changes in movement speed were found. The significant changes in νh and νs among the karate trained subjects (TG 1 and TG 2) are ascribed to a change in the kinematics of the segmental motions induced by the karate training, to a movement pattern that takes advantage of the potentiating effect of a stretch-shortening cycle on muscle power output in flexor muscles of the shoulder and the extensor muscles of the elbow. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.