Diagnostic and Evaluation of the Core Strength of Triathletes S A B INE P Ö L L E R 1, THOMAS M O E L L E R 2 & MA R E N W ITT 1,2 1 F A C U L T Y O F S P O R T S C I E N C E, U N I V E R S I T Y O F L E I P Z I G, G E R M A N Y 2 I N S T I T U T E F O R A P P L I E D T R A I N I N G S C I E N C E, L E I P Z I G, G E R M A N Y Science & Triathlon - Magglingen - February 2013
Introduction Functions of the trunk musculature: stable base force transmission Impact on athletic performance? Prevention of injuries? Santana (2005) Content and amount of strength training? Gold standard for the measurement of core strength? Tittel (1994)
Core Strength Testing Measurement results of core strength differ strongly possible causes: isometric or isokinetic movements endurance strength or 1 RM different groups of subjects, different measuring systems, different measuring positions movement speeds, reps and evaluation software (Verdonck et al., 1997)
Objectives What is the performance level of triathletes in an isometric trunk maximum strength test in the cross-section of the total sample? depending on age and gender? depending on the training base? compared over a preparation period and over a year? gender-differentiated compared to the other sports: rowing, canoeing, swimming and throwing (athletics)? In which amount and content is strength trained at German triathlon bases?
Instrument and Measurement Isometric maximum strength test using the CTT Pegasus (BfMC, Leipzig, Germany) at the Institute for Applied Training Science (Leipzig) within the complex performance diagnostics Maximum force measured in the sagittal, frontal & transversal plane 3 trials in the strength test (~15 min)
Instrument and Measurement Each subject has its own individual anthropometric profile Necessary to determine: body mass body height upper body length Reference = upper body torque
Subjects 49 athletes (21 female and 28 male, regional and national squad) 19.2 ± 3.0 years old 1. Test (n=49) Comparative Test A (after 2-4 months); n=16 Comparative Test B (after 1 year); n=11 Sex Body height in cm Body mass in kg female 168.8 ± 6.3 58.1 ± 7.6 male 183.3 ± 6.3 70.5 ± 8.3
Cross-Section Results (n=49) [Percent] 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Extension Flexion Lateral left Lateral right Rotation left Rotation right
Gender Differences [Percent] 120 110 100 90 80 70 * * * * * 60 Extension Flexion Lateral left Lateral right Rotation left Rotation right male female Lateral Extension Signifikanztabelle Flexion left Lateral right Rotation left Rotation right p.002.084.011.015.000.007
Age Group Differences [Percent] 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 Extension Flexion Lateral left Lateral right Rotation left Rotation right Juniors Juniors (n=28), U23/Elite (n=21) U23/Elite
Strength Training at the National Centers Saarbrücken (n=8), Potsdam (n=22), Neubrandenburg (n=9), others (n=10) Saarbrücken Potsdam Neubrandenburg strength training in h/year ~ 200 100-150 100-150 units per week 4 3-5 2-3 a) athletic training b) with gym equipement c) with free weights 50 % 15 % 35 % 65 % 0 % 35 % 66.6 % 33.3 % 0 % alternative strength training none Skikes, rowing, canoeing xc-skiing
Training Base Differences [Percent] 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 Extension Flexion Lateral_li Lateral_re Rotation_li Rotation_re Saarbrücken Potsdam Neubrandenburg others Problems with inconsistent recording and group composition
Development over one preparation period [Percent] 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 * Extension Flexion Lateral left Lateral right Rotation left Rotation right 1. Test 2. Test Extension Flexion Lateral left Lateral right Rotation left Rotation right p.000.787.095.956.072.054 d.77.07.38.01.27.32
Comparison of Sports [Percent] 110 Men 100 90 80 70 60 Extension Flexion Lateral Rotation Canoeing Rowing Swimming (Youth) Swimming (Elite) Triathlon Throwing
Comparison of Sports [Percent] 105 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 Women Extension Flexion Lateral Rotation Canoeing Rowing Swimming (Youth) Swimming (Elite) Triathlon Throwing
Single Cases Male (17), Regional Squad Female (22), National Squad Male (20), Regional Squad Female (27), National Squad
Summary Men have a good performance level, women have significant deficits - explanation? No significant differences by age and training Trunk strength training with complex, alternative training methods Good analysis of the trunk strength possible with this test
Future Research With ongoing testing, clarification of the trend in the longitudinal section Training intervention studies Benchmarks for triathletes Correlation of dysbalances and laterality Correlation of flexibility and strength performance Impact on the competition result Standardized recording of strength training
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References Bourban, P., Hübner, K., Tschopp, M. & Marti, B. (2001). Grundkraftanforderungen im Spitzensport: Ergebnisse eines 3-teiligen Rumpfkrafttests. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin und Sporttraumatologie, 49 (2), 73-78. Cowley, P. M., Fitzgerald, S., Sottung, K., & Swensen, T. (2009). Age, Weight, and the Front Abdominal Power Test as Predictors of Isokinetic Trunk Strength and Work in Young Men and Women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23, 915-925. Denner, A. (1995). Muskuläre Profile der Wirbelsäule. Band 1: Grundlagen. Köln: Sport und Buch Strauß. Fröhlich, M. & Pieter, A. (2009). Cohen s Effektstärken als Mass der Bewertung von praktischer Relevanz Implikationen für die Praxis. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin und Sporttraumatologie, 57, 139-142. Nikolenko, M., Brown, L. E., Coburn, J. W., Spiering, B.A. & Tran, T. T. (2011). Relationship between Core Power and Mesures of Sport Performance. Kinesiology, 43 (2), 163-168. Prochnow, C. (2011). Entwicklung eines Trainingskonzepts zum spezifischen Krafttraining in der Sportart Triathlon im Hochleistungstraining. Studienarbeit, Trainerakademie Köln. Santana, J. (2005). Strength Training for Swimmers: Training the Core. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 27 (2), 40-42. Sato, K. & Mokha, M. (2009). Does Core Strength Training Influence Running Kinetics, Lower-Extremity Stability, and 5000-m Performance in Runners? Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23, 133-140. Tittel, K. (2003). Beschreibende und funktionelle Anatomie des Menschen (14., völlig überarb. und erw. Aufl.). München, Jena: Urban und Fischer. Tschopp, M. (2003). Leistungsdiagnostik Kraft. Magglingen: Swiss Olympic. Verdonck, A. J., Höltke, V. & Theek, C. (1997). Isokinetische Kraftleistungsdiagnostik der Rumpfextensoren und flexoren. Eine Untersuchung bei Hochleistungsschwimmern und Eistänzern/Eiskunstläufern der nationalen Spitzenklasse. Leistungssport, 27 (4), 39-44. Vincent, W. (1995). Statistics in kinesiology. Champaign: Human Kinetics. Weineck, J. (2000). Optimales Training : leistungsphysiologische Trainingslehre unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Kinder- und Jugendtrainings (11. Aufl.). Balingen: Spitta-Verlag. Witt, M. (2009, Oktober). Biomechanische Diagnostik selbstständig durchführen: Rumpfkraft. Vorlesung Masterstudiengang Sportwissenschaft an der Universität Leipzig. Zatsiorsky, V. M. & Kraemer, W. J. (2008). Krafttraining, Praxis und Wissenschaft. Aachen: Meyer & Meyer.
Development over one year [Percent] 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 * * Extension Flexion Lateral left Lateral right Rotation left Rotation right 1. Test 2. Test Lateral Lateral Rotation Rotation Extension Flexion left right left right p.024.888.000.000.155.064 d.70.03 1.29.80.28.44 *
Upper Body Torque by Zatsiorsky (1984, in Witt, 2009) needed: body mass (BM), body height (BH) and upper body length (UBL). Women upper body mass (UBM) = -21.084 + 0.326 BM + 0.2155 BH Men upper body mass (UBM) = 10.0974 + 0.62064 BM - 0.06562 BH individual upper body torque = 0.45 UBL/100 * 9.81 UBM Expected: Extension : Flexion 2:1, Flexion : Lateral 1:1, Flexion : Rotation 1:0,7
Training Examples (Prochnow, 2011; Eggert, 2011)
Instrument and Measurement