Summary
To investigate the effects of a combination of simultaneous strength and endurance training on selected neuromuscular and aerobic performance characteristics seven male cross-country skiers underwent training for a period of 6 weeks. The experimental group trained 6–9 times per week with a programme consisting of 34% explosive type strength training and 66% endurance training during the first 3 weeks of the experiment and 42% and 58% respectively during the last 3 weeks of the experiment. The total volume of training of the control group (eight skiers) was of the same magnitude but consisted of 85% pure endurance training and 15% endurance type strength training. The experimental training regime resulted in specific changes in neuromuscular performance. This was demonstrated by improvements (P<0.01) in the maximal heights of rise of the centre of gravity in the squat and countermovement jumps. A significant decrease (P<0.05) took place also in the time of rapid isometric force production during experimental training, while no changes occurred in the maximal force of the trained muscles. Aerobic performance characteristics of the experimental group did not change during the experimental training period. No significant changes occurred in neuromuscular or aerobic performance characteristics in the control group. These findings indicated that training-induced improvements in explosive force production may not be fully inhibited by this kind of aerobic training. They also suggested that endurance athletes could undertake explosive type strength training programmes without a concomitant reduction in aerobic capacity, if the overall loading of training were within predefined limits.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aunola S, Rusko H (1984) Reproducibility of aerobic and anaerobic thresholds in 20-50 year old men. Eur J Appl Physiol 53:260–266
Bosco C (1980) Sei un grande atleta: vediauro cosa dice l'Ergo-jump. Pallavolo 5:34–36
Dudley GA, Djamil R (1985) Incompatibility of endurance- and strength-training modes of exercise. J Appl Physiol 59:1446–1451
Durnin J, Rahaman M (1967) The assessment of the amount of fat in the human body from the measurements of skinfold thickness. Br J Nutr 21:681–689
Ekström H (1981) Force interplay in cross-country skiing. Scand J Sports Sci 3:69–76
Häkkinen K (1989) Neuromuscular and hormonal adaptations during strength and power training. A review. J Sports Med 29:9–26
Häkkinen K, Komi PV (1985) Effect of explosive type strength training on electromyographic and force production characteristics of leg extensor muscles during concentric and various stretch-shortening cycle exercises. Scand J Sports Sci 7:65–76
Häkkinen K, Komi PV (1986) Training-induced changes in neuromuscular performance under voluntary and reflex conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol 55:147–155
Häkkinen K, Viitasalo JT, Komi PV (1980) Die Wirkung unterschiedlich kombinierter konzentrischer and exzentrischer Muskelarbeit auf Kraft-Zeit-Merkmale der Beinstreckmuskulatur. Leistungssport 10:374–381
Häkkinen K, Komi PV, Tesch P (1981) Effect of combined concentric and eccentric strength training and detraining on forcetime, muscle fibre, and metabolic characteristics of leg extensor muscles. Scand J Sports Sci 3:50–58
Häkkinen K, Komi PV, Alen M (1985) Effect of explosive type strength training on isometric force- and relaxation time, electromyographic and muscle fibre characteristics of leg extensor muscles. Acta Physiol Scand 125:587–600
Hickson R (1980) Interference of strength development by simultaneously training for strength and endurance. Eur J Appl Physiol 215:255–263
Holloszy J, Coyle E (1984) Adaptations of skeletal muscle to endurance exercise and their metabolic consequences. J Appl Physiol 56:831–838
Hunter G, Demment R, Miller D (1987) Development of strength and maximum oxygen uptake during simultaneous training for strength and endurance. J Sports Med 27:269–275
Keul J, Dickhuth H-H, Lehmann M, Staiger J (1982) The athlete's heart — haemodynamics and structure. Int J Sports Med 3:33–43
Komi PV (1973) Relationship between muscle tension, EMG and velocity of contraction under concentric and eccentric work. In: Desmdt JE (ed) New Developments in electromyography and clinical neurophysiology. Karger, Basel, pp 596–606
Komi PV, Karlsson J, Tesch P, Suominen H, Heikkinen E (1982) Effect of heavy resistance and explosive type strength training methods on mechanical, functional and metabolic aspects of performance. In: Komi PV (ed) Exercise and sport biology. Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill, pp 90–102
Moritani T, DeVries HA (1979) Neural factors versus hypertrophy in the time course of muscle strength gain. Am J Phys Med 58:115–130
Nelson A, Coulee R, Arnall D, Toy S, Silvester J (1984) Adaptations to simultaneous training for strength and endurance (abstract). Med Sci Sports 16:184
Pierce JC, Pope MH, Renstrom P, Johnson RJ, Dufek J, Dillman C (1987) Force measurement in cross-country skiing. Int J Sport Biom 3:382–391
Rusko H, Rahkila P (1983) Effect of training on aerobic capacity of female athletes differing in muscle fiber composition. J Sports Sci l:185–194
Rusko H, Havu M, Karvinen E (1978) Aerobic performance capacity in athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol 38:151–159
Rusko H, Rahkila P, Karvinen E (1980) Anaerobic threshold, skeletal muscle enzymes and tiber composition in young female cross-country skiers. Acta Physiol Scand 108:263–268
Sale D (1988) Neural adaptation to resistance training. Med Sci Sports Exerc [Suppl] 20:135–145
Saltin B, Åstrand P-O (1967) Maximal oxygen uptake in athletes. J Appl Physiol 23:353–358
Viitasalo JT, Hakkinen K, Komi PV (1981) Isometric and dynamic force production and muscle fibre composition in man. J Hum Mov Stud 7:199–209
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Paavolainen, L., Häkkinen, K. & Rusko, H. Effects of explosive type strength training on physical performance characteristics in cross-country skiers. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 62, 251–255 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00571548
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00571548