Do We All Agree?
Recently, I have seen the following statement or something similar within
the context of various Internet and periodical-based strength and conditioning
publications: "Nearly all strength coaches agree that Olympic-style weightlifting
and plyometrics are essential for improving athletic potential." I would
like to address the use or misuse of this type of language as it relates
to strength training and conditioning athletes.
First, is the statement accurate? Although I do not have data to represent
actually how many strength coaches would agree or disagree with such
a statement, I have concluded that a good number of professionals may
not buy into such a generalization. Evidence to support this stance may
be attained from websites such as Stronger Athlete , Cyberpump ,
and Coaching Science Abstracts to name a few. Most emphatically, Stronger
Athlete's list of teams who train without the use of Olympic lifts
and plyometrics illuminates a growing culture of coaches who refrain
from incorporating such methods.
Second, the use of statements such as "nearly all coaches agree." implies
no further research is necessary regarding this issue. Since most of
us agree, why challenge the popular point of view? I, personally, have
come to believe that what's popular may not always be what's best for
all. Shouldn't we as strength professionals continually ask ourselves, "Is
there a safer, more efficient and effective way of doing things?" Shouldn't
we at least ponder training protocols in a similar manner that many of
us review the nutritional content of some foods we eat? If athletes were
educated about the potential health hazards of some training protocols,
would they still participate in them? Unfortunately, consumers often
seem to be satisfied with the advice given by a coach or fitness magazine
stud without asking any questions.
Third, in all reality, we may still be in the infant stage of strength
training and conditioning athletes. Many mysteries still exist in which
science has yet to explain relating to how muscles actually work and
optimal doses of training stimulation. However, research has indicated
underlying principles of exercise science, which provide a prudent means
for contextual program development (i.e. Size Principle of Muscle Fiber
Recruitment, All on None Principle, Overload Principle, General Adaptation
Syndrome, and Specificity of Motor Learning).
Finally, the statement used to make a point in this article may symbolize
a seemingly passive attitude that often exists among athletes in regards
to acceptance of training methods and information. Without a doubt, the
mantra "train fast to be fast" still overwhelming exists in the United
States . Pick up almost any fitness magazine and articles will be featured
that glamorize this mindset. However, do the authors ever address the
potential health problems that may result from performing exercises such
as depth-jumps or power-cleans?
I'd like to close with a couple of interesting text references:
"Heavy resistance free-weight exercises are not a component of rehabilitation
and training programs of all athletes.In addition, in those for whom
weight lifting itself is a primary sport, shoulder injuries are not uncommon
and can be career threatening."
The American Journal of Sports Medicine
"The power clean is a total body movement involving both the upper and
lower extremities. The pulling and racking phases take place in less
than a second and require motor patterns that have been taught and are
well ingrained for the exercise to be performed safely. The speed of
motion and the technical aspect of the power clean place a pathological
distal clavicle and wrist joint at risk. Even with correct performance
of the power clean, repetitive microtrauma occurs to these areas. Athletes
who participate in collision sports such as football or lacrosse are
particularly susceptible to injury when participating in off-season conditioning
programs.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine
"Some coaches consider plyometrics a good way to improve power. However,
only light plyometrics are included in our workout schedule because experience
teaches us that when heavy plyometrics or any shock training (such as
depth jumping) are done in combination with strength training, the result
is often overtraining, injuries, and loss of speed."
University of Nebraska 's Complete Conditioning
for Football
Safe and simple training results in success!
Bibliography
Arthur, M., Bailey, B. Complete Conditioning for Football. Champaign
, IL : Human Kinetics. 1998.
Fees, M., Decker, T., Snyder-Mackler, L., Axe, M. Upper extremity weight
training modifications for the
injured athlete: A clinical perspective. The American Journal of
Sports Medicine. Sept-Oct 1998:
26(5), p732(11).
John Mikula, CTRS, HITS-C, PACE is a Certified Recreational Therapist
working in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation and owner of Sports Performance
Strength & Conditioning of Memphis. For those interested in training
sessions or consultation, contact:
John Mikula, CTRS, HITS-C, PACE
901-388-8056
jmik33@yahoo.com