Guest guest Posted June 26, 2002 Report Share Posted June 26, 2002 Mel -- with respect to your recent comments on the use of extra-loading via the use of weighted vests: Here's a perspective on bodymass increases via weighted vests: Over our eight week outdoor season, my high school sprinters, (most of whom do not train year round) make improvements as they reduce body weight. When I visited the Harvard locomotion lab last summer, I asked if these athletes might actually stronger by late season from doing a variety of drills for several weeks under the " resistance " of their own mass. Could it be that athletes who lower body mass during the course of the season (and all our sprinters do) are, in effect, using their mass as a form of event specific strength work? Athletes often use weighted vests, diver's belts, etc. in order to increase mass without altering motor patterns which, as you pointed out, is the problem with using weights at the extremities. My question was: might my athletes be " using " their slightly heavier bodies early in the season as a form of strength work, and that, as they get in shape, are losing the mass while gaining strength? For example, one of our sprinters began the outdoor season (early April) running the 200 in 23.92. By the third week of May, his time dropped to 22.54. In that time period, he lost ten pounds. Of course, performance drops by way of reduced body mass would not apply to athletes who have advanced training ages and extended training cycles. We would assume their weight would be fairly consistent. The locomotion group felt this was correct, and that lowering body mass (which many refer to as getting in shape) may be the major effect of training in many cases. They concurred with the idea that reducing body weight without compromising the ability to produce Favge will confer greater speed, because the critical variable for speed is Favge/Wb). This would result from losses in body fat that reduce weight. Simply put, the lighter the better, or perhaps the leaner the better for speed. Dr. has also reviewed the research on weighted vests, and I would recommend checking the Running Research News (Jan-Feb 1996) for the article: Can Ankle Weights and Weight Vests Help You Run Faster? In a study done at Texas Tech, thirteen athletes used traditional strength training, while fourteen athletes used traditional strength training plus plyometric training with weight vests. The traditional strength training carried out by all 27 athletes consisted of power cleans, bench presses, sit-up, pull-ups, leg extensions, and leg curls (five sets of five reps at about 65-75% of max). Near max weight and lower numbers of reps were used on every fourth workout. Athletes trained three times per week for six weeks. Those in the weighted/plyometric group had 10 to 12% of their body weight loaded into vests The 40 yard dash, what Owen mentioned as the test of " real significance for runners who want to enhance their leg speed, " verified the merits of added-weight plyometric training. The group went from an average time of 5.07 to 4.74 in six weeks. (The added-weight group had also improved by 13% in the vertical jump and 7% in the standing long jump). Heikki Rusko of Finland also conducted a weight vest study a few years earlier, and his test subjects improved their maximal running velocity by 3% within the same six-week time frame used in the Texas Tech study. Rusko's athletes also had about ten percent of their body weight in the vests. Kindest regards, Ken Jakalski Lisle, Illinois * Don't forget to sign all letters with full name and city of residence if you wish them to be published! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2002 Report Share Posted June 28, 2002 f wrote: > The most serious concern with weighted vests is their compaction of > discs in the spine with ballistic types movements. Also, they do > change the technique as the resistance is not applied against the > movement specifically. The athlete is challenged to some degree to > stand up straight. > > Weighted shorts in the overspeed cycle would be far more effective > as they do not compromise the spine and will be more useful to > provide resistance through the precise motor pathway. It should also > be noted that the weights need to be placed appropriately around the > hip/top of the thigh and no where near the knees. One should also > start with only a few weights in the shorts as to not change proper > technique. Mel Siff: > Of course, someone will argue that weighted shorts will overstress > the hips and joints of the lower extremities - and for apparently good reason. ** This simply relates to the athletes fitness and the amount of weight used. Having the weight push down however, can put the discs in a precarious position [studies have also shown that the a very high incidence of back pain and dysfunction occurs among those who lead sedentary lives. Those who very heavily load their spines (like lifters) have a significantly lower incidence of back problems than the general population. Apparently studies of African women who regularly carry heavy loads on their heads has shown similar results. As is so often the case in exercise, it is not so much the exercise per se, but the way in which that exercise is carried out which leads to damage. Mel Siff] > I am not discounting the vests with certain movements, like pitching. > However, they do not provide a safe and most effective means for > runners. Mel Siff: > The research which showed benefits from wearing weighted belts and vests > simply involved walking and doing one's daily activities throughout one's > entire waking day, not during running. ** If I am not mistaken, the original post was in regards to running. Again, the amount of weight and the person's fitness still has to be considered even with walking. [The responses referred to the training for running, not simply running with extra loading - this thread started when I cited a study which focused on walking with what they called " extra-loading " . Mel Siff] Yosef Muskegon Mi * Please sign all letters with full name and city if you wish to have them published! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2002 Report Share Posted June 28, 2002 f wrote: > The most serious concern with weighted vests is their compaction of > discs in the spine with ballistic types movements. Also, they do > change the technique as the resistance is not applied against the > movement specifically. The athlete is challenged to some degree to > stand up straight. > > Weighted shorts in the overspeed cycle would be far more effective > as they do not compromise the spine and will be more useful to > provide resistance through the precise motor pathway. It should also > be noted that the weights need to be placed appropriately around the > hip/top of the thigh and no where near the knees. One should also > start with only a few weights in the shorts as to not change proper > technique. Mel Siff: > Of course, someone will argue that weighted shorts will overstress > the hips and joints of the lower extremities - and for apparently good reason. ** This simply relates to the athletes fitness and the amount of weight used. Having the weight push down however, can put the discs in a precarious position [studies have also shown that the a very high incidence of back pain and dysfunction occurs among those who lead sedentary lives. Those who very heavily load their spines (like lifters) have a significantly lower incidence of back problems than the general population. Apparently studies of African women who regularly carry heavy loads on their heads has shown similar results. As is so often the case in exercise, it is not so much the exercise per se, but the way in which that exercise is carried out which leads to damage. Mel Siff] > I am not discounting the vests with certain movements, like pitching. > However, they do not provide a safe and most effective means for > runners. Mel Siff: > The research which showed benefits from wearing weighted belts and vests > simply involved walking and doing one's daily activities throughout one's > entire waking day, not during running. ** If I am not mistaken, the original post was in regards to running. Again, the amount of weight and the person's fitness still has to be considered even with walking. [The responses referred to the training for running, not simply running with extra loading - this thread started when I cited a study which focused on walking with what they called " extra-loading " . Mel Siff] Yosef Muskegon Mi * Please sign all letters with full name and city if you wish to have them published! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2002 Report Share Posted June 28, 2002 f wrote: > The most serious concern with weighted vests is their compaction of > discs in the spine with ballistic types movements. Also, they do > change the technique as the resistance is not applied against the > movement specifically. The athlete is challenged to some degree to > stand up straight. > > Weighted shorts in the overspeed cycle would be far more effective > as they do not compromise the spine and will be more useful to > provide resistance through the precise motor pathway. It should also > be noted that the weights need to be placed appropriately around the > hip/top of the thigh and no where near the knees. One should also > start with only a few weights in the shorts as to not change proper > technique. Mel Siff: > Of course, someone will argue that weighted shorts will overstress > the hips and joints of the lower extremities - and for apparently good reason. ** This simply relates to the athletes fitness and the amount of weight used. Having the weight push down however, can put the discs in a precarious position [studies have also shown that the a very high incidence of back pain and dysfunction occurs among those who lead sedentary lives. Those who very heavily load their spines (like lifters) have a significantly lower incidence of back problems than the general population. Apparently studies of African women who regularly carry heavy loads on their heads has shown similar results. As is so often the case in exercise, it is not so much the exercise per se, but the way in which that exercise is carried out which leads to damage. Mel Siff] > I am not discounting the vests with certain movements, like pitching. > However, they do not provide a safe and most effective means for > runners. Mel Siff: > The research which showed benefits from wearing weighted belts and vests > simply involved walking and doing one's daily activities throughout one's > entire waking day, not during running. ** If I am not mistaken, the original post was in regards to running. Again, the amount of weight and the person's fitness still has to be considered even with walking. [The responses referred to the training for running, not simply running with extra loading - this thread started when I cited a study which focused on walking with what they called " extra-loading " . Mel Siff] Yosef Muskegon Mi * Please sign all letters with full name and city if you wish to have them published! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2002 Report Share Posted June 29, 2002 Perhaps there is a study of Armed Forces, i.e., Marines, Army, that have walked and/or jogged for miles with packs from 70lbs to 100+ lbs to show the resultant effect on back and performance. Charlie Newkerk, C.S.C.S. Rockledge, Fl newkfit@... ----------- f wrote: > > The most serious concern with weighted vests is their compaction of > > discs in the spine with ballistic types movements. Also, they do > > change the technique as the resistance is not applied against the > > movement specifically. The athlete is challenged to some degree to > > stand up straight. > > > > Weighted shorts in the overspeed cycle would be far more effective > > as they do not compromise the spine and will be more useful to > > provide resistance through the precise motor pathway. It should also > > be noted that the weights need to be placed appropriately around the > > hip/top of the thigh and no where near the knees. One should also > > start with only a few weights in the shorts as to not change proper > > technique. Mel Siff: > > Of course, someone will argue that weighted shorts will overstress > > the hips and joints of the lower extremities - and for apparently good reason. Yosef > This simply relates to the athletes fitness and the amount of > weight used. Having the weight push down however, can put the discs > in a precarious position Mel Siff: > [studies have also shown that the a very high incidence of back pain > and dysfunction occurs among those who lead sedentary lives. Those who > very heavily load their spines (like lifters) have a significantly lower > incidence of back problems than the general population. Apparently > studies of African women who regularly carry heavy loads on their > heads has shown similar results. As is so often the case in exercise, > it is not so much the exercise per se, but the way in which that exercise > is carried out which leads to damage. ] Yosef > > I am not discounting the vests with certain movements, like pitching. > > However, they do not provide a safe and most effective means for > > runners. Mel Siff: > > The research which showed benefits from wearing weighted belts and vests > > simply involved walking and doing one's daily activities throughout one's > > entire waking day, not during running. Yosef > If I am not mistaken, the original post was in regards to running. > Again, the amount of weight and the person's fitness still has to be > considered even with walking. Mel Siff: > [The responses referred to the training for running, not simply > running with extra loading - this thread started when I cited a study > which focused on walking with what they called " extra-loading " . ] * Please sign all letters with full name and city if you wish to have them published! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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