title: Effectiveness of an Individualized Training Based on Force-Velocity Profiling during Jumping.
abstract: Ballistic performances are determined by both the maximal lower limb power output (Pmax) and their individual force-velocity (F-v) mechanical profile, especially the F-v imbalance (FVimb): difference between the athlete's actual and optimal profile. An optimized training should aim to increasePmaxand/or reduceFVimb. The aim of this study was to test whether an individualized training program based on the individual F-v profile would decrease subjects' individualFVimband in turn improve vertical jump performance.FVimbwas used as the reference to assign participants to different training intervention groups. Eighty four subjects were assigned to three groups: an "optimized" group divided into velocity-deficit, force-deficit, and well-balanced sub-groups based on subjects'FVimb, a "non-optimized" group for which the training program was not specifically based onFVimband a control group. All subjects underwent a 9-week specific resistance training program. The programs were designed to reduceFVimbfor the optimized groups (with specific programs for sub-groups based on individualFVimbvalues), while the non-optimized group followed a classical program exactly similar for all subjects. All subjects in the three optimized training sub-groups (velocity-deficit, force-deficit, and well-balanced) increased their jumping performance (12.7 ± 5.7% ES = 0.93 ± 0.09, 14.2 ± 7.3% ES = 1.00 ± 0.17, and 7.2 ± 4.5% ES = 0.70 ± 0.36, respectively) with jump height improvement for all subjects, whereas the results were much more variable and unclear in the non-optimized group. This greater change in jump height was associated with a markedly reducedFVimbfor both force-deficit (57.9 ± 34.7% decrease inFVimb) and velocity-deficit (20.1 ± 4.3%) subjects, and unclear or small changes inPmax(-0.40 ± 8.4% and +10.5 ± 5.2%, respectively). An individualized training program specifically based onFVimb(gap between the actual and optimal F-v profiles of each individual) was more efficient at improving jumping performance (i.e., unloaded squat jump height) than a traditional resistance training common to all subjects regardless of theirFVimb. Although improving bothFVimbandPmaxhas to be considered to improve ballistic performance, the present results showed that reducingFVimbwithout even increasingPmaxlead to clearly beneficial jump performance changes. Thus,FVimbcould be considered as a potentially useful variable for prescribing optimal resistance training to improve ballistic performance.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport, Catholic University of San Antonio Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Reyes
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la motricité (EA7424), University of Savoie Mont Blanc Le Bourget du Lac, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Samozino
authors.affiliation: Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brughelli
authors.affiliation: Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland, New Zealand; Université Côte d'Azur, LAMHESSNice, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Benoît
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Morin
keywords: ballistic training; explosive performance; jumping; maximal power output; resistance strength training