STRENGTH TRAINING - SELECTED PROCEDURES AND CORRESPONDING EFFECTS

Therapeutic use of strength training requires knowledge about correspo nding effects in healthy and impaired people. Selected strength traini ng programs were analysed with respect to training intensity and speci fic modes of exercise. In a first study, 10 subjects performed 21 trai ning sessions, three series with 12 repetitions of leg extensions with 50% of maximum voluntary contraction. 11 subjects did 100% of maximum voluntary contraction. In a second study 6 subjects performed the abo ve-mentioned 100% training, and 6 did a power lifting program, knee-be nding, three sessions technique training, nine sessions including ten, eight, six, four, ten repetitions with 60, 70, 80, 90 and 60% of maxi mum weight, and nine sessions of five, four, three, two and five repet itions with 85, 90, 95, 100 and 85%. Pre and post training period, mus cle cross section area of the upper thigh, maximum static leg extensio n and vertical jump height were measured. All training programs increa sed muscle cross section area (p < 0.05). In the first study, there wa s no effect on vertical jump height (p > 0.05). Only the 100% training increased maximum static knee extension torque (p < 0.05). In the sec ond study 100% leg extension training increased maximum static knee ex tension (p<0.05), however, the knee-bending program increased vertical jump (p<0.05). In conclusion, strength training with medium and maxim um intensity increased muscle mass. Improvement of maximum muscle powe r demanded maximum voluntary contractions. Tasks including a higher le vel of intermuscular coordination demanded training with similar patte rns of coordination.