Abstract des Autors

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of eccentric, concentric and isometric rate of force development (RFD) tests. Thirteen subjects with experience in weight training participated in the study. Concentric, eccentric and isometric maximum RFD tests were developed for the upper body using a bench press action. Concentric RFD was measured using relative loads of 30, 60 and 100% of maximum, while the eccentric tests used 100, 130 and 150% of maximum. Dynamic performance measurement included two drop bench press throws (DBPT), in which a loaded bar was dropped from a height of 0.25 m, using a 10 kg and a 30% maximum load, and a seated shot put throw (SSP). Concentric RFD tests exhibited the strongest relationship to DBPT (r=0.58-0.82) and SSP (r=0.56-0.80), and were able to discriminate between good and poor performers on all performance measures. The isometric test exhibited weaker relationships to the performance measures (r=0.40-0.57), and was less effective in discriminating between good and poor performances. The eccentric tests recorded no relationship with dynamic performance. The results of this study suggest that concentric RFD tests provide a superior assessment alternative to traditional isometric methods. This finding is seen to be due to the large neural differences between isometric and dynamic contractions and their respective specificity to performance. Verf.-Referat