Effects of long-term training specificity on maximal strength and power of the upper and lower extremities in athletes from different sports

Maximal concentric one repetition maximum half-squat (IRMHS), bench-press (IRMBP), power-load curves during concentric actions with loads ranging from 30% to 100% of IRMHS and IRMBP were examined in 70 male subjects divided into five groups: weightlifters (WL, 17 11), handball players (HP, n = 19), amateur road cyclists (RC.. n = 18), middle-distance runners (MDR, n = 10) and age-matched control subjects (C, n 12). The IRMHS values In WL, HP and RC were 50%, 29% and 28% greater, respectively, (P < 0.001-0.01) than those recorded for MDR and C. The half-squat average power Outputs at all loads examined (from 30% to 100%) in WL and HP (P<0.001 at 45% and 60% with HP) were higher (P<0.05-0.001) than those in MDR, RC and C. Average power output at the load of 30% of IRMHS in RC was higher (P<0.05) than that recorded in MDR and C. Maximal power Output was produced at the load of 60% for HP, MDR and C, and at the load of 45% for WL and RC. The IRMBP in WL was larger (P<0.05) than those recorded in HP, RC. MDR and C. In the bench press, average muscle power outputs in WL and HP were higher (P<0.05-0.001) than those in MDR, RC and C, and were maximized at a load of 30% of IRM for WL and HP, and at 45% for RC, MDR and C. In addition, the velocities that elicited the maximal power in the lower extremities were lower (approximate to0.75 m.s(-1)) than those occurring in the upper extremities (approximate to1 m.s(-1)). The data suggest that the magnitude of the sport-related differences in strength and/or muscle power output may be explained in part by differences in muscle cross-sectional area, fibre type distribution and in the muscle mechanics of the upper and lower limbs as well as by training background.