Neuromuscular training before practice improves performance in youth tennis players

Neuromuscular training for youth athletes typically involves calisthenics, plyometric exercises, change of direction drills and speed training. Ample research has demonstrated that pre-pubertal athletes can significantly improve markers of performance with neuromuscular training despite experiencing minimal changes in muscle hypertrophy. However, the timing or sequencing of neuromuscular training may impact training adaptations. For example, when …

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Effect of plyometric training vs. resistance training on strength and performance

Coaches often include a combination of progressive plyometric training and resistance training into strength and conditioning programs for their athletes. Plyometric exercises are typically performed immediately following the warm-up and before strength training exercises. Alternatively, plyometrics are sometimes performed on the practice field, separate from strength training workouts. However, time constraints and limited availability to …

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Passive and PNF but not active or ballistic stretching reduce jump performance

Various forms of stretching have long been an integral component to the pre-training warm-up routine. Teams would often line up in rows on the field and count out their ~15 seconds stretches in unison, starting from their upper body and moving progressively to their lower body. However, the effects of static stretching on strength and …

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Effect of Sleep Quality and Training Load on Performance in Elite Gymnasts

With the development of practical sleep-monitoring devices, empirical evidence has steadily emerged from research that supports what coaches have known all along; sleep quality affects performance. Valuing sleep pays off in how athletes feel, how they train and how they perform. Therefore, coaches need to take a proactive role in addressing sleep quality with athletes …

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Decreased knee flexor muscle function from frequent soccer match simulations

There are many instances in team sports where matches are held every day or every other day. This occurs during tournament play as well as congested match fixtures. Competitions are considerably more taxing on players than practices, often resulting in greater soreness and muscle damage. Therefore, it is reasonable for coaches to be concerned about …

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Does foam rolling enhance recovery in elite athletes?

It can take anywhere from 48 to 96 hours for full recovery to take place following a match. However, there are many instances in which athletes are not given adequate recovery time between competitions. Tournament-play and congested match fixtures often require athletes to compete on consecutive days, or sometimes twice in the same day. As …

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Delayed recovery from training to failure

One of the primary drivers of skeletal muscle adaptations is total resistance training volume. Provided that the volumes fall within the recovery capacity of the individuals, the magnitude of the stimulus will be greater with higher volume. When it comes to recovery from training however, total volume may not be the only factor we need …

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Athletes experiencing overuse injuries also demonstrate reduced heart rate variability

Increases in training load are often used by coaches to stimulate adaptations in athletes. Overload periods are common in periodized training structures and often precede a taper leading into competition. Despite being exposed to the same training schedule, not all athletes respond the same way to intensified training. Some athletes will respond well and improve …

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Effect of varying training frequency on performance in elite youth soccer players

Strength and conditioning training does not necessarily make an athlete more talented or skilled at their sport. It does however enable an athlete to perform their skills while accumulating less fatigue. More over, basic physical qualities such as strength and power underpin numerous athletic performance tasks such as jumping, sprinting and changing direction. An important …

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Effect of cold water immersion on objective and subjective recovery in rugby players

Cold water immersion is one of the most common modalities used by sports teams to enhance recovery from training and competing in athletes. Following intensive training or a competition, athletes reluctantly submerge their lower body in ice-cold water. Athletes often report that this reduces pain and soreness following training. Its impact on performance recovery is …

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