321212 - Why developing physical conditioning routines with flywheel devices can improve the vertical jumping capacity in gymnastics
Description
Implementing physical conditioning programs with flywheel devices (FD) improved significantly the strength and power of the inferior limb musculature in teams sports [1], such as volleyball [2], soccer [3], football [4], and handball [5] among others. On the other hand, this kind of training also demonstrated positive strength and power effects in individual sports as tennis [6] and in subjects experienced in strength training [7]. Nevertheless, FD training should not be considered as replacement of other traditional resistance training, but as a supplementary and complementary method to enhance the jumping performance [8].
Nowadays, general recommendations to induce chronic adaptations in research and applied contexts are the following [9]: 1) Selecting an overall range of inertial intensities around 0.05–0.11 kg·m2 to improve athletic performances [3, 10]; 2) Adopting training protocols with multiple sets (from 3 to 6) and repetitions (from 6 to 8) [3, 11]; 3) A frequency of 2–3 sessions/week completed for 5–10 weeks [11].
The above-reported improvements of the strength and power parameters of the inferior limb seem to be explained by an augmented eccentric muscle contraction (descending phase) thanks to the overload originated by the accumulated inertia during the concentric phase (against gravity) as long as the upward squat is executed at maximal effort [12]. Under these conditions the main physiological effects are [12, 13]: 1) increment of the number of attached cross-bridges and potentiated tensile contribution of the passive structure elements engaged within the sarcomere under elongation/lengthening, 2) preferential recruitment of high threshold motor unit and greater cortical activity, 3) Acute morphological muscle adaptations induced by structural damage at muscle level where the overstretched sarcomeres become progressively weaker and disrupted [14].
It is time to do applied research in artistic gymnastics and gymnastics in general to optimize the benefice already reported in other populations.
References:
1. Buonsenso, A., et al., A Systematic Review of Flywheel Training Effectiveness and Application on Sport Specific Performances. Sports, 2023. 11(4).
2. Wang, J., et al., The effect of flywheel complex training with eccentric-overload on muscular adaptation in elite female volleyball players. PeerJ, 2024. 12: p. e17079.
3. Coratella, G., et al., Effects of in-season enhanced negative work-based vs traditional weight training on change of direction and hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio in soccer players. Biology of Sport, 2019. 36(3): p. 241-248.
4. Timmins, R.G., et al., Sprinting, Strength, and Architectural Adaptations Following Hamstring Training in Australian Footballers. Scand J Med Sci Sports, 2021. 31(6): p. 1276-1289.
5. Sabido, R., et al., Effects of adding a weekly eccentric-overload training session on strength and athletic performance in team-handball players. Eur J Sport Sci, 2017. 17(5): p. 530-538.
6. Canos, J., et al., Effects of isoinertial or machine-based strength training on performance in tennis players. Biol Sport, 2022. 39(3): p. 505-513.
7. Walker, S., et al., Greater Strength Gains after Training with Accentuated Eccentric than Traditional Isoinertial Loads in Already Strength-Trained Men. Front Physiol, 2016. 7: p. 149.
8. Arsenis, S., et al., THE EFFECTS OF FLYWHEEL TRAINING ON THE STRENGTH AND POWER OF LOWER LIMBS. Sport Science, 2019. 12(2): p. 8-19.
9. Beato, M. and A. Dello Iacono, Implementing flywheel (isoinertial) exercise in strength training: current evidence, practical recommendations, and future directions. Frontiers in Physiology, 2020. 11: p. 569.
10. Maroto-Izquierdo, S., et al., Comparison of the musculoskeletal effects of different iso-inertial resistance training modalities: Flywheel vs. electric-motor. Eur J Sport Sci, 2019. 19(9): p. 1184-1194.
11. Maroto-Izquierdo, S., et al., Skeletal muscle functional and structural adaptations after eccentric overload flywheel resistance training: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2017. 20(10): p. 943-951.
12. Douglas, J., et al., Eccentric Exercise: Physiological Characteristics and Acute Responses. Sports Med, 2017. 47(4): p. 663-675.
13. Hody, S., et al., Eccentric Muscle Contractions: Risks and Benefits. Front Physiol, 2019. 10: p. 536.
14. Illera-Dominguez, V., et al., Early Functional and Morphological Muscle Adaptations During Short-Term Inertial-Squat Training. Front Physiol, 2018. 9: p. 1265.
