The influence of ratio and allometric scaling procedures for normalizing upper body power output in division I collegiate football players.
The purpose of the present study was to examine the differences in upper body power output among lineman and nonlineman division I collegiate football players and to examine the influence of 2 normalization procedures: (a) simple ratio scaling and (b) standardized allometric scaling. Ten lineman (mean +/- SD: age = 19.3 +/- 1.6 years; height = 187.7 +/- 4.7 cm; mass = 127.7 +/- 13.3 kg) and 14 nonlineman (19.6 +/- 1.4 years; 181.8 +/- 5.2 cm; 92.3 +/- 10.6 kg) performed a multiple repetition bench press power test at 50% of their 1 repetition maximum. Peak power (PP) was determined from a Tendo weightlifting analyzer that was attached to the barbell. The PP values were then analyzed under 3 conditions that included: (a) no scaling (absolute values), (b) ratio scaling (PP body mass), and (c) allometric scaling (PP body mass). The results indicated that the larger lineman demonstrated greater absolute PP values (p = 0.02); however, ratio scaling favored the smaller nonlineman group (p = 0.04). There were no differences in PP values between positions after the standardized allometric scaling procedure (p = 0.60). These findings indicated that the standardized allometric scaling procedure may be a more effective method for normalizing PP values among elite division I collegiate football players.
Thompson
Brennan J
BJ
Applied Musculoskeletal and Human Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Performance, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.
Smith
Doug B
DB
Jacobson
Bert H
BH
Fiddler
Ryan E
RE
Warren
Aric J
AJ
Long
Blaine C
BC
O'Brien
Matthew S
MS
Everett
K Lee
KL
Glass
Rob G
RG
Ryan
Eric D
ED
D056352:Athletes; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult