High Speed Isokinetic Training

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I am a long time " lurker " on this list; I haven't posted in a while,

as I don't have a computer at home. I am trying to gage the

need/desire for high speed isokinetic training in the strength and

conditioning world. I have a Masters in Biomechanics and 5 yrs or so

experience personal training, and have just started working for a

company here in Australia that makes such equipment. While there is

obviously a conflict of interest, this is not an advertisement

inasmuch as I am not looking for buyers here, I am trying to get opinions.

Some of you may be familiar with the " VERT " system (Velocity Enhanced

Resistance Training) in California that was written about in USA

today some months ago, that has trained Lenny Krayzelburg, Shaquille

O'Neal, and other gold medallists. The technology involves closed-

loop hydraulic isokinetics to allow resistance training at constant

speeds of up to 800 degs/sec; much closer to that seen during

competition than traditional weight training with the safety of

isokinetics. Our specific Kinetic system consists of 9 machines, and

is designed to train 20 athletes or so in an hour. I am not posting

results obtained from our equipment, or places that have it, (or our

company name for that matter) so as not to make this post too

advertisement-y, however I will gladly provide any further information if asked.

[by all means give more quantitative details about the differences between

'your' machines

and other similar machines on the market. Address topics such as the range of

isokineticity

and any research which shows actual transfer of machine-acquired abilities to

the world of sports.

Comments on the fact that RFD (Rate of Force Development) specificity is

seriously neglected by

the use of all ioskinetic machines. By the way, as someone who has consulted

for the Chicago Bulls,

Shak certainly did not spend much time on seriously training with any isokinetic

machines while

he played for the Bulls. Quite frankly, I am not very moved by anecdotal

evidence about athletes

whose results have been attributed to a specific machine or training secret,

because all athletes

train with a wide variety of sports specific and general training modalities. A

sample size of a

few sponsored Olympians hardly constitutes scientific evidence, especially if

the athletes concerned

have used a multiplicity of methods in their rise to fame. Mel Siff]

So my question is, what is the level of interest for such equipment

in the strength and conditioning world? Any feedback or questions would be most

welcome.

[Of course, a major issue is: " Do these costly machines demonstrably produce

superior improvements to

existing free weight methods and if so, are they equally safe and efficient in

terms of time, effort and costs

expended? " As someone who has designed and owns a variety of specialised

isokinetic, linear motorised,

gear driven, low-inertia, high-inertia, combined isoinertial-isokinetic devices,

plus three force plates and

miscellaneous other technology, I only periodically use such devices because I

have developed programs and

methods with free weights and cable systems that are extremely effective in

enhancing performance. These

devices are wonderful for those of us who wish to probe the science behind

training and refining the performance

of elite athletes, but really aren't essential for the average coach. Mel Siff]

Donovan Shaw

Wooloomooloo?

Australia