Daniel J. Dodd

UNDULATION TRAINING FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HIERARCHICAL FITNESS AND IMPROVED FIREFIGHTER JOB PERFORMANCE

Peterson, MD, Dodd, DJ, Alvar, BA, Rhea, MR, and Favre, M. Undulation training for development of hierarchical fitness and improved firefighter job performance. J Strength Cond Res 22(5): 1683-1695, 2008-Firefighters routinely encounter physical demands that contribute to countless musculoskeletal injuries. Seemingly, a progressive prescription for fitness would offer superior protection against intrinsic job risks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of two resistance training interventions on fitness adaptations among firefighters, and to assess the degree of transfer to job-specific tasks. Firefighter trainees were recruited for participation in this experimental study. Two distinct, periodized training models-undulation training (UT; n = 7) and standard training control (STCo; n = 7)-were used to determine the differential affects for muscular fitness and transference to firefighter performance batteries. Specific tests were administered to evaluate 1) upper- and lower-body muscular strength, 2) lower-body power output, 3) sprint speed and jumping ability, 4) anthropometry, and 5) firefighter Grinder performance (i.e., firefighter-specific job tests). The 9-week UT experimental treatment prescription was characterized by daily “nonlinear” fluctuations in training to preferentially elicit specific and distinct muscular fitness components, whereas the STCo treatment conformed to a traditional model, in which each fitness component was systematically targeted during a specified mesocycle. For both treatments, nearly all fitness and performance measures significantly increased from baseline (p < 0.05), with a trend in favor of UT. Further, the UT group experienced significantly greater improvements (p < 0.05) in Grinder performance over the STCo group. Calculation of effect sizes identified meaningful differences in the magnitude of changes in outcomes (effect size > 0.50) in favor of UT for measures of thigh circumference, vertical jump, 1RM squat, Grinder performance, and peak power output. These findings suggest a potentially greater stimulus for multidimensional muscular fitness development with UT, over a periodized STCo. This study effectively establishes that UT may offer a greater transference to performance for firefighter-specific job tasks.

Analysis of Acute Explosive Training Modalities to Improve Lower-Body Powerin Baseball Players

Complex training is the simultaneous combination of heavy resistance training and plyometrics. The objective of this study was to test the effects of complex training vs. heavy resistance or plyometric interventions alone on various power-specific performance measures. Forty-five male division II junior college baseball players participated in 3 separate 4-week resistance training interventions. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups. In a counterbalanced rotation design, each group participated in complex, heavy resistance, and plyometric training interventions. Each individual was tested in 20-yd (SP20), 40-yd (SP40), 60-yd (SP60), vertical jump, standing broad jump, and T-agility measures pre– and post–4-week training interventions. There was no statistical significant difference (p = 0.11) between groups across all performance measures. Review of each distinct training intervention revealed greater percent improvements in SP20 (0.55; −0.49; −0.12), SP40 (0.26; −0.72; −1.33), SP60 (0.27; 0.15; −0.27), standing broad jump (1.80; 0.67; 1.1), and T-agility (2.33; 1.23; −0.04) with complex training interventions than with the heavy resistance or plyometric training interventions, respectively. Plyometric-only training showed greater percent changes in vertical jump (1.90) than with complex (0.97) or heavy resistance training (0.36). The present results indicate that complex training can provide strength and conditioning professionals equal, if not slightly greater, improvements in muscular power than traditional heavy resistance– and plyometric-only interventions in moderately trained athletes. Complex training can be another valuable method for short-term power and speed improvements in athletes in isolation or in conjunction with other power development methods.

The effect of warm-up with whole-body vibration vs. cycle ergometry on isokinetic dynamometry.

Kelly, SB, Alvar, BA, Black, LE, Dodd, DJ, Carothers, KF, and Brown, LE. The effect of warm-up with whole-body vibration vs. cycle ergometry on isokinetic dynamometry. J Strength Cond Res 24(11): 3140-3143, 2010-The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of warm-up protocols using either whole-body vibration (WBV) or cycle ergometry (CE) on peak torque at 3 different isokinetic speeds and on fatigue in the knee extension exercise. Twenty-seven recreationally trained (age = 23.59 ± 3.87 years) men (n = 14) and women (n = 13) were tested at 3 different isokinetic speeds (60, 180, 300°·s−1) after either WBV or CE warm-up. The WBV consisted of intermittent bouts of 30 seconds of isometric squats at various degrees of hip and knee flexion for a total of 5 minutes. The CE consisted of 5 minutes of pedaling a cycle ergometer at 65-85% of age-predicted max heart rate. Comparisons between the warm-up conditions were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. For the fatigue comparison, subjects completed 50 continuous concentric knee extensions at 240°·s−1. Means from the first 3 repetitions were compared to means from the final 3 repetitions to establish a fatigue index. Conditions were compared through an independent T-test. No significant (p > 0.05) differences were discovered between warm-up conditions at any speed or on the fatigue index. Means were virtually identical at 60°·s−1 (WBV = 142.14 ± 43.61 ft lb−1; CE = 140.64 ± 42.72 ft lb−1), 180° s−1 (WBV = 93.88 ± 35.18 ft lb−1; CE = 96.36 ± 31.53 ft lb−1), and 300°·s−1 (WBV = 78.36 ± 26.04 ft lb−1; CE = 80.13 ± 26.08), and on fatigue percentage (WBV = 51.14 ± 10.06%; CE = 52.96 ± 9.19%). These data suggest that the more traditional 5-minute cycle ergometer warm-up elicits results comparable to a less common vibration warm-up. The findings of this study are that these modalities are comparable under the tested conditions.

How do they compare?: an assessment of predeployment fitness in the Arizona National Guard.

Warr, BJ, Alvar, B, Dodd, D, Heumann, K, Mitros, M, Keating, C, and Swan, PD. How do they compare?: an assessment of predeployment fitness in the Arizona National Guard. J Strength Cond Res 25(11): 2955–2962, 2011—Currently, there is a paucity of literature that describes physical fitness levels in deploying service members. There has been no data collected that evaluate the Army National Guard or Reserves. This descriptive study will provide physical fitness data for soldiers in the Arizona National Guard (AZNG), allowing for a comparison between the active and reserve components. Sixty soldiers from the AZNG were tested before deployment. Body composition was measured by using air displacement plethysmography. Flexibility testing included the sit and reach (SNR), trunk extension (TE), and shoulder elevation (SE) assessments. Muscular strength was determined by the completion of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) bench press and back squat. Muscular endurance was determined by the completion of the Army push-up (P/U) and sit-up (S/U) test. Muscular power was assessed by the completion of the Wingate cycle test and the standing broad jump (SBJ). Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by the completion of a &OV0312;o2peak test. The AZNG soldiers demonstrated a fat mass of 22.7 ± 8.9%, SNR, TE, and SE of 30.0 ± 8.9, 117.1 ± 25.2, and 145.5 ± 50.3 cm, 1RM bench press and back squat of 82.2 ± 29.9 and 104.6 ± 29.0 kg, P/U and S/U of 50 ± 18 and 53 ± 14 reps, peak power of 660.9 ± 177.8 W, SBJ of 191.8 ± 28.4 cm, and &OV0312;o2peak of 48.9 ± 8.8 ml·kg−1·min−1. This is the first study that provides descriptive data for physical fitness in a reserve component. The data demonstrate that these AZNG soldiers are relatively fit and have comparable results to their active duty counterparts. This descriptive data will provide military leadership a better understanding of the condition of soldiers before deployment and will assist them in better preparing soldiers for future conflicts.

Impact of Visual Feedback on Exercise Intensity and Motivation: 892 Board #71 May 31 3

51 Pages Technological advances like smartphones and computers have led to an increase in screen time and decrease in physical activity. These technologies have been found to be negatively associated with physical activity, however they may also be used to promote activity. Mobile applications and physical activity devices may be used to provide visual biofeedback to individuals to promote increased physical activity, adherence to exercise programs, and exercising at higher intensity levels. PURPOSE: The objective is to determine if visual heart rate monitor biofeedback motivates college-aged students to maintain a higher overall exercise intensity during a stationary cycling class. The study is also interested in determining which type of visual biofeedback participants prefer. METHODS: A within-subject design was used to determine how visual biofeedback impacts exercise intensity. Thirty participants volunteered for the study and completed three cycling sessions. During each cycling session, the class was randomly assigned to either a No Feedback, Individual Feedback, or a Group Feedback condition. Each participant was assigned a heart rate monitor sensor, heart rate monitor strap, and an identification number in order to record their exercise intensity. At the beginning of the first class, the participants completed the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety surveys (STAI). For the second and third cycling sessions, the participants only completed the Spielberger State Anxiety survey. At the end of each exercise session, the participants completed a survey indicating if they enjoyed the visual feedback and using the heart rate monitors. On the final day of data collection, they also indicated which visual biofeedback condition they preferred the most. RESULTS: The Group Feedback condition spent a higher percentage of time above 80% of their age-predicted heart rate max compared to the other conditions. This condition spent 17.5% of their time in the 80-90% heart rate zone and 2.8% in the 90-100% heart rate zone. In addition, the 1-way repeated measures ANOVA found significant difference between the time spent in the 60-70% heart rate zone between the three conditions. The results showed that the Group Feedback condition had the highest average caloric expenditure (293.5 kcal), average heart rate (138.1 bpm), and maximal heart rate (174.4 bpm). The results indicated 21 (70%) participants preferred the Group Feedback condition, 4 participants (13.3%) favored the Individual Feedback, 1 participant (3.3%) preferred No Feedback, and 4 participants (13.3%) had No Preference for either condition. There was also a significant positive correlation between the Group Feedbacks RPE …