260819 Strength exercises and speed of motion

260819 Strength exercises and speed of motion

Before you read this post, take a moment and look at the ActivelyFitSeniors site. If you are retired, near retirement age, have parents or know an older person, this site relates directly to them.

If strength exercises are used to help develop speed then the weight must be low enough to allow the same speed of action as the play displays. Otherwise, the movements slow down on the field.

Generally speaking, if the resistance to be overcome in the game is high, then the speed resistance exercises in the training room must also be of high intensity. As a prime example, high caliber weightlifters use loads of 70-80% of their one repetition maximum on speed day training.

Recall previous discussions of strength development and the cross sectional fibers relationships. It is now known there is no such easy relationship between the muscle contraction speed and the cross sectional fibers of the particular muscle. 
Proper coordination of the motor units in the muscle is necessary before maximal speed develops.

This coordination is very dependent on the efficiency of the nervous system.

With increasing resistance comes a corresponding decrease in the velocity of the muscular contraction. Simply put, strength force output increases to match and overcome the resistance increases but the velocity of movement decreases. When the resistance the athlete encounters equals the force output then the velocity of motion is zero. Taken to the logical conclusion if the resistance continues to go higher the athlete will be moving in an eccentric pattern of movement.

Another gentle reminder:

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