title: Acute effects of verbal feedback on upper-body performance in elite athletes.
abstract: Argus, CK, Gill, ND, Keogh, JWL, and Hopkins, WG. Acute effects of verbal feedback on upper-body performance in elite athletes. J Strength Cond Res 25(12): 3282-3287, 2011-Improved training quality has the potential to enhance training adaptations. Previous research suggests that receiving feedback improves single-effort maximal strength and power tasks, but whether quality of a training session with repeated efforts can be improved remains unclear. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of verbal feedback on upper-body performance in a resistance training session consisting of multiple sets and repetitions in well-trained athletes. Nine elite rugby union athletes were assessed using the bench throw exercise on 4 separate occasions each separated by 7 days. Each athlete completed 2 sessions consisting of 3 sets of 4 repetitions of the bench throw with feedback provided after each repetition and 2 identical sessions where no feedback was provided after each repetition. When feedback was received, there was a small increase of 1.8% (90% confidence limits, ±2.7%) and 1.3% (±0.7%) in mean peak power and velocity when averaged over the 3 sets. When individual sets were compared, there was a tendency toward the improvements in mean peak power being greater in the second and third sets. These results indicate that providing verbal feedback produced acute improvements in upper-body power output of well-trained athletes. The benefits of feedback may be greatest in the latter sets of training and could improve training quality and result in greater long-term adaptation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sport and Recreation, Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand. argy15@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Christos K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Argus
authors.forename: Nicholas D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Justin Wl
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Keogh
authors.forename: Will G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Hopkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001415:Back / Q000502:physiology; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D012057:Reinforcement, Verbal; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult