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Biomedical subjects

J Tihanyi

Publications and source records attributed to J Tihanyi.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effects of plyometric training on jumping performance in junior basketball players.

BACKGROUND: Although the plyometric training has proved its efficiency, it remains generally unknown whether a limited amount of plyometric training could improve movements in subjects who already demonstrate high level of performance. METHODS: Three different training regimens were performed in order to study effects of plyometric training on elite junior basketball players. While control group (CG) participated only in the regular midseason training activity, another two groups performed a limited amount of plyometric training employing drop jumps from the height of either 50 cm (EG-50) or 100 cm (EG-100). The height of the maximal vertical jump (CMJ), as well as the maximal voluntary force (F) and the rate of force development (RFD) of hip and knee extensors were tested prior to and after the training. RESULTS: An increase in CMJ (4.8 and 5.6 cm in EG-50 and EG-100, respectively), as well as in F of hip extensors and RFD of knee extensors was observed in both experimental groups, while no significant changes were recorded in CG. When the pretest scores were used as a covariate, both experimental groups demonstrated higher increase in CMJ and RFD of knee extensors then CG. However, no differences were observed between EG-50 and EG-100. The multiple correlation between four isometric parameters and CMJ revealed R2=0.29. CONCLUSIONS: A limited amount of plyometric training could improve jumping performance in elite junior basketball players and this improvement could be partly related with an increase in F of hip extensors and RFD of knee extensors. However, neither of the two initial heights of the applied drop jumps proved to be more effective.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Hormonal responses to whole-body vibration in men.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute responses of blood hormone concentrations and neuromuscular performance following whole-body vibration (WBV) treatment. Fourteen male subjects [mean (SD) age 25 (4.6) years] were exposed to vertical sinusoidal WBV, 10 times for 60 s, with 60 s rest between the vibration sets (a rest period lasting 6 min was allowed after 5 vibration sets). Neuromuscular performance tests consisting of counter-movement jumps and maximal dynamic leg presses on a slide machine, performed with an extra load of 160% of the subjects body mass, and with both legs were administered before and immediately after the WBV treatment. The average velocity, acceleration, average force, and power were calculated and the root mean square electromyogram (EMGrms) were recorded from the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles simultaneously during the leg-press measurement. Blood samples were also collected, and plasma concentrations of testosterone (T), growth hormone (GH) and cortisol (C) were measured. The results showed a significant increase in the plasma concentration of T and GH, whereas C levels decreased. An increase in the mechanical power output of the leg extensor muscles was observed together with a reduction in EMGrms activity. Neuromuscular efficiency improved, as indicated by the decrease in the ratio between EMGrms and power. Jumping performance, which was measured using the counter-movement jump test, was also enhanced. Thus, it can be argued that the biological mechanism produced by vibration is similar to the effect produced by explosive power training (jumping and bouncing). The enhancement of explosive power could have been induced by an increase in the synchronisation activity of the motor units, and/or improved co-ordination of the synergistic muscles and increased inhibition of the antagonists. These results suggest that WBV treatment leads to acute responses of hormonal profile and neuromuscular performance. It is therefore likely that the effect of WBV treatment elicited a biological adaptation that is connected to a neural potentiation effect, similar to those reported to occur following resistance and explosive power training. In conclusion, it is suggested that WBV influences proprioceptive feedback mechanisms and specific neural components, leading to an improvement of neuromuscular performance. Moreover, since the hormonal responses, characterised by an increase in T and GH concentration and a decrease in C concentration, and the increase in neuromuscular effectiveness were simultaneous but independent, it is speculated that the two phenomena might have common underlying mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Adaptive responses of human skeletal muscle to vibration exposure.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of whole-body vibrations (WBV) on the mechanical behaviour of human skeletal muscle. For this purpose, six female volleyball players at national level were recruited voluntarily. They were tested with maximal dynamic leg press exercise on a slide machine with extra loads of 70, 90, 110 and 130 kg. After the testing, one leg was randomly assigned to the control treatment (C) and the other to the experimental treatment (E) consisting of vibrations. The subjects were then retested at the end of the treatment using the leg press. Results showed remarkable and statistically significant enhancement of the experimental treatment in average velocity (AV), average force (AF) and average power (AP) (P < 0.05-0.005). Consequently, the velocity-force and power-force relationship shifted to the right after the treatment. In conclusion, it was affirmed that the enhancement could be caused by neural factors, as athletes were well accustomed to the leg press exercise and the learning effect was minimized.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1999

Foot placement modifies kinematics and kinetics during drop jumping.

PURPOSE: Sprinting, bouncing, and spontaneous landings are associated with a forefoot contact whereas walking, running, and jumping are associated with heel-toe foot placement. Because such foot placement strategies influence landing mechanics or the ensuing performance, the purpose of this work was to compare lower extremity kinematics and kinetics and muscle activation patterns between drop vertical jumps performed with heel-toe (HTL) and forefoot (FFL) landings. METHODS: Ten healthy male university students performed two types of drop jump from a 0.4-m high box placed 1.0-m from the center of the force plate. They were instructed to either land first on the ball of the feet without the heels touching the ground during the subsequent vertical jump, i.e., forefoot landing jump (FFL), or to land on the heels followed by depression of the metatarsals, i.e., heel-toe landing jump (HTL). Three successfully performed trials per jump type were included in the analysis. The criteria for selection of the correct jumps was proper foot position at contact as judged from video records and the shape of force-time curve. RESULTS: The first peak and second peak determined from the vertical force-time curves were 3.4 times greater and 1.4 times lower for HTL compared with those with FFL (P<0.05). In the flexion phase of HTL, the hip and knee joints contributed 40% and 45% to the total torque, whereas during FFL the greatest torque contributions were 37% for both the knee and ankle joints. During the extension phase, the greatest torque contributions to the total torque were 41% and 45% by the knee and ankle joints during HTL and 34% and 55% during FFL. During the flexion phase, power production was 20% greater (P<0.05) in HTL than in FFL, whereas during the extension phase power production was 40% greater in FFL than in HTL. In the flexion phase of HTL the hip and knee joints produced the greatest power, and during the extension phase the knee and ankle joints produced the greatest power. In contrast, during both the flexion and extension phases of FFL, the knee and ankle joints produced the greatest power. The EMG activity of gluteus, vastus lateralis, and plantar flexor muscles was similar between HTL and FFL in most cases except for the greater vastus lateralis EMG activity during precontact phase in HTL than in FFL and the greater gastrocnemius activity in FFL than in HTL. CONCLUSION: Foot placement strategy modifies the individual joint contributions to the total power during drop jumping.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effect of oral creatine supplementation on jumping and running performance.

The study was designed to investigate the effect of creatine monohydrate ingestion (20 g daily for 5 days) on performance in 45 s maximal continuous jumping and in all-out treadmill running at 20 km x h(-1), (inclination 5 degrees, duration approximately 60s). The participants were qualified sprinters and jumpers. The effect of creatine was compared with placebo in a double-blind design. Creatine (Cr) supplementation led to a significant enhancement of performance capacity in the jumping test by 7% during the first 15 s and by 12% during the second 15 s of the exercise. The positive effect of Cr supplementation was not observed in the last third of the continuous jumping exercise, when the contribution of anaerobic metabolism was decreasing. The time of intensive running up to exhaustion improved by 13%. The results show that Cr supplementation helps to prolong the time during which the maximal rate of power output could be maintained.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Relationships between field fitness test and basal serum testosterone and cortisol levels in soccer players.

The aim of this study was to investigate the existence of a relationship between performance capacities and blood levels of testosterone (T) and cortisol (C). Thirty-two professional soccer players volunteered for the study. Morning levels of hormones were plotted against results of maximal vertical jump with a preparatory counter-movement (CMJ), 30 m running, and Cooper's 12-min running test. The serum T was positively related to both CMJ and average running speed (r=0.43 and r=0.47, respectively). Serum levels of C and T were in negative correlation (r= -0.40 and r= -0.49, respectively) with the results of Cooper's test. It was concluded that athletes with better explosive strength and sprint running performances have a higher basal level of testosterone. The results suggest a relationship between testosterone production and development of fast twitch muscle fibres in athletes.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A dynamometer for evaluation of dynamic muscle work.

The validation of a new dynamometer for evaluation of dynamic muscle work is presented. The device was based on a precise measurement of load displacements of any machine using gravitational loads as external resistance. It allowed, through a sensor consisting of an infrared photo interrupter, the calculation of velocity, force and power during concentric, eccentric and stretch-shortening cycle activity. To validate the dynamometer 33 male and female track and field athletes (12 throwers and 21 jumpers) participated in the study. The throwers (4 women and 8 men) were asked to perform half-squat exercises on a slide machine with a load of 100% of the subject's body mass. The day-to-day reproducibility of half-squat exercises gave a correlation coefficient of r = 0.88, 0.97 and 0.95 for average push-off force (AF), average push-off velocity (AV), and average push-off power (AP) respectively. Comparison of half-squat measurements was performed against jumping and running test evaluation by the jumpers (7 women and 14 men). The interrelationships among the different variables studied demonstrated a strong correlation between AF, AV and AP and sprinting and jumping parameters (r = 0.53-0.97; P < 0.05-0.001). Using values of AF, AV and AP developed in half-squat exercises executed with different loads, ranging from 35% to 210% of the subject's body mass, it was also possible to establish the force-velocity and power-velocity relationships for both male and female jumpers. In any individual case, the maximal error due to the measurement system was calculated to be less than 0.3%, 0.9% and 1.2% for AF, AV, and AP respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The effect of fatigue on store and re-use of elastic energy in slow and fast types of human skeletal muscle.

Stretch-shortening exercises are characterized by enhancement of performance when compared to the work output performed in shortening conditions. There is evidence that fast subjects are unable to re-use great amounts of elastic energy during stretch-shortening cycles performed with slow stretching speed and large stretching length. In the present study, 14 subjects possessing different fibre types in m. vastus lateralis performed vertical jumps with and without preliminary countermovement and with large angular displacement and slow stretching speed The jumping tests were executed before and immediately after fatigue induced by short intense exercises (60 s of continuous rebound jumping). The results indicated that the percentage of re-use of elastic energy was more pronounced in slow subjects compared to fast ones during the test performed before fatigue (28.3% vs. 22.8%). In contrast fast subjects demonstrated a greater percentage re-use of elastic energy than slow ones after fatigue (32% vs. 22.5%). Similarly, the negative relationship observed before fatigue, between the percentage of re-use of elastic energy and percentage of fast twitch fibres (r = 0.50, n = 14, P less than 0.05), was reversed after fatigue (r = 0.55, n = 14, P less than 0.05). The results can be interpreted through differences in sarcomere cross-bridges life-times between fast and slow twitch muscle fibres. The slow twitch-type muscle fibre may be able to retain the cross-bridge attachment for a longer period of time during no fatigued conditions, and therefore it may utilize elastic energy better in slow type ballistic motion. On the other hand, fast twitch type muscle fibres are more affected by fatigue, which might have induced a remarkable decrease of the cross-bridge attachment detachment cycle. Decrease of the cross-bridge rate cycle might allow fast twitch-type muscle fibres to retain longer the elastic energy stored during the stretching phase and then re-use it during positive phase.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Effects of intense "stretching"-flexibility training on the mechanical profile of the knee extensors and on the range of motion of the hip joint.

The sample for the study involved 12 volunteer male, active but not specially trained secondary school students. They averaged 15.33 years with a mean height of 168.20 cm, and a mean mass of 55.08 kg. Changes, if any, in the mechanical properties (MVC, half-relaxation time, fast isometric contraction, concentric contraction of the knee extensors) and flexibility of the hip joints were studied. The subjects executed passive, purely slow stretching as well as range-of-motion flexibility exercises for the knee extensors and the hip joints for 7 weeks three times a week. Pre- and post-measurements for flexibility and stride frequency on the spot showed significant improvement as did half-relaxation time, fast isometric force development, and speed of concentric contractions when low loads were to be overcome. In addition to studies in which improvements reported were attributed to and related to myoelectrical, reflex, and connective tissue changes, in the present study it was concluded that stretching exercises influence intrinsic muscle mechanical character along with a simultaneous improvement in range of motion of the joints exercised.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Mechanical power test and fiber composition of human leg extensor muscles.

The present study was undertaken to assess the relationship between the mechanical power developed during new anaerobic power test and muscular fiber distribution. Ten track and field male athletes were used as subjects, whose muscle fiber composition (m. vastus lateralis) varied from 25 to 58 fast twitch (FT) fibers. The test consisted of measuring the flight time with a special timer during 60 s continuous jumping. A formula was derived to allow the calculation of mechanical power during a certain period of time (e.g., in the present study every 15 s during 60 s of jumping performance). The relationship between the mechanical power for the first 15 s period correlated best with fast twitch (FT) fiber distribution (r = 0.86, p less than 0.005). However, the power output during the successive 15 s periods demonstrated lower correlation with FT, and this relationship became statistically non-significant after 30 s of work. The sensitivity to fatigue of the test was supported by the relationship observed between the decrease of power during 60 s jumping performance and the percentage of FT fibers (r = 0.73, p less than 0.01). Thus, the present findings suggest that muscular performance, as determined by the new jumping test, is influenced by skeletal muscle fiber composition. The new test, which primarily evaluates maximal short term muscular power, also proved sensitive in assessing fatigue patterns during 60 s of strenuous work.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Force-velocity-power characteristics and fiber composition in human knee extensor muscles.

To investigate the influence of skeletal muscle fiber composition on the mechanical characteristics of human skeletal muscle under isometric and dynamic conditions, ten well-trained track athletes with different muscle compositions (m. vastus lateralis) were used. The subjects were instructed to perform maximum isometric and dynamic knee extensions at maximal speed against increasing load. To determine the mechanical properties of the knee extensors a special dynamometer was used. The load was increased by adding weight discs to the electromagnetic part of the dynamometer. The load increased from 0.33-2.33 kg2 moment of inertia in six stages. The data were handled on the basis of Hill's characteristic equation. The subjects were divided into two equal groups, one with more and one with less than 50% of fast twitch fibers. The force-velocity curve was found to be different in the two groups, the subjects with a predominance of fast twitch fibers being able to develop higher power output at a given load. Significant correlations between percentage of fast twitch fiber and power, as well as velocity, were found at the four greater loads only. However, when the percentage of fast twitch fiber and fast twitch fiber cross-sectional areas were combined, significant correlations were also found between this combined parameter and power output at the two lowest loads.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Store and recoil of elastic energy in slow and fast types of human skeletal muscles.

Stretch-shortening cycle refers to the mechanical condition in which store and recoil of elastic energy occur in the skeletal muscle. This leads to a greater work output when compared to a simple shortening contraction. The subjects performed vertical jumps with and without preliminary counter-movement and with small and large knee angular displacement. The results indicated that those subjects who had more fast twitch (FT) fibers benefited more from the stretching phase performed with high speed and short angular displacement. The amounts of elastic energy stored in this phase were 30 and 26 N X kgBW-1, respectively, for FT and slow twitch (ST) type subjects. The recoil of elastic energy was proportional to the amount of energy storage. In large amplitude jumps where transient period between stretch and shortening is long the both types of subjects demonstrated similar amount of storage of elastic energy (17 and 16 N X kgBW-1, respectively). However, the re-use of this elastic energy was greater in ST group (24%) as compared to the FT group (17%). The results can be interpreted through differences in sarcomere crossbridge life times between fast and slow muscle fibers. The slow type muscle may be able to retain the cross-bridge attachment for a longer period of time and therefore it may utilize elastic energy better in a slow type ballistic motion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

The social system of age group swimming: the perceptions of swimmers, parents and coaches.

The opinions of swimmers, parents and coaches on the social aspect of age group swimming indicate a unanimity of opinion on the value of this activity in the community. Nevertheless a majority of all subgroups thought some changes in its structure should take place. Principally more "fun" should mark both games and practices, heavy training and competition should be deemphasized while current motivational techniques and learning principles should be learned and observed by coaches.

Age Factors↗