title: Effects of a 12-week strength training program on experimented fencers' movement time.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 12-week strength training program on movement time (MT) on fencers of national level. Twelve male fencers were randomly divided into 2 groups: the control group (CG: N = 6; age, 22.3 ± 8.1 years) and the treatment group (TG: N = 6; age, 24.8 ± 7.2 years). The CG fencers followed the standard physical conditioning program, which was partially modified for the TG. The TG participated in a 12-week strength training program divided into 2 parts: maximal strength training, including weightlifting exercises (2 days a week for 6 weeks) and explosive strength training, with combined weights and plyometric exercises (2 days a week for 6 weeks). Body mass, body fat, muscle mass, jumping ability, maximal strength, reaction time, and MT were measured on 4 separate occasions. The TG demonstrated significant increases (p ≤ 0.05) in maximal strength and jumping ability after 6 weeks of training and in MT after 12 weeks. These improvements remained unaltered during the 4-week detraining period. It may be concluded that a 12-week strength training program can improve maximal and explosive strength, and these increases can be transferred to MT performance. However, fencers need time to transfer the gains.
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Sports Sciences, Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, University of León, León, Spain; 2Laboratory of Physiology, European University Miguel de Cervantes, Valladolid, Spain; and 3Faculty of Sports Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Redondo
authors.forename: Cruz J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sedano
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Benito
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D059385:Plyometric Exercise; D055070:Resistance Training; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult