The influence of upper-body strength on flat-water sprint kayak performance in elite athletes.
Dry-land strength training is a fundamental component for elite kayak performance. The aims of this research were 3-fold: 1st, to determine the relationship between performance time and strength scores for elite kayakers; 2nd, to identify how strength changes (gains or losses) over 3 training y relate with changes in performance time for elite kayakers; and 3rd, to compare the progression in performance times for elite athletes with the top 3 performers from the national championships. The performance data for 15 elite male and 10 elite female kayakers were collected over 2 y. This group was reduced to 9 men and 8 women in the 3rd and final year. There were direct and significant correlations between strength scores and performance times across the 3 y. Bench-press 1RM increased by 34.8% for men and 42.3% for women. Over the 3 seasons, mean 1000-m time decreased by approximately 4.8%, 500-m times decreased by 7.3% (women), and 200-m times decreased by 9.1%. The women's 500-m changed from 11.9% difference from medalists to within 1.1% during the 3 y. During the 3 y of this study a change in 1-repetitionmaximum (1RM) bench press of 13% for men and 6.5% in women coincided with a change in performance times of 1%. For 1RM pull-up a change of 10% in men and 2.3% in women coincided with a change in performance times of 1%.
School of Health and Sport Science, University of Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Mark R
MR
McKean
Brendan J
BJ
Burkett
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human; D055070:Resistance Training; D013177:Sports; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D060726:Torso; D034941:Upper Extremity; D055815:Young Adult