Table 1.
The effects of various training methods on the determinants of maximal muscular power, sustained power production during brief maximal efforts, and rates of recovery
| Determinants | Maximum force | Rate of force development | Neuromuscular coordination | Activation-relaxation kinetics | Maximum shortening velocity | Fatigue resistance | Muscle oxidative capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relevant mechanisms |
- Muscle CSA - MyHC IIa/x area ratio - MyHC IIa/x composition (positive effect) - Neural drive - Muscle architecture |
- Maximum force - Neural drive - MyHC IIa/x area ratio - MyHC IIa/x composition (positive effect) - MTU stiffness |
- Magnitude of muscle activation -Timing of muscle activation and relaxation |
- MyHC IIa/x composition (positive effect) -Sarcoplasmic reticulum structure and function |
- MyHC IIa/x composition (positive effect) - Muscle architecture |
- MyHC IIa/x composition (negative effect) -Anaerobic substrate availability and enzyme activity -Metabolite buffering capacity -Pain tolerance |
- Muscle CSA (negative effect) - MyHC IIa/x composition (negative effect) - Mitochondrial and capillary density -Oxidative enzyme activity |
| Training methods for maximal power | |||||||
| Maximum strength training | ↑↑↑ | ↑↑ | - | ↓ | ↓ | ↑ | ↓ (?) |
| Explosive strength training | ↑↑ | ↑↑↑ | - | - (?) | - (?) | ↑ | - |
| Eccentric strength training | ↑↑↑ | ↑↑↑ (?) | - | ↑ (?) | ↑ (?) | ↓ (?) | ↓ (?) |
| Isokinetic strength and power training | ↑↑ (?) | ↑↑↑ (?) | ↑↑↑ (?) | - | - | ↑↑ | ↑ |
| Specific cycling strength and power training (track or ergometer) | ↑↑ | ↑↑↑ | ↑↑↑ | - (?) | - (?) | ↑ | ↑ |
| Training methods for sustained power and rates of recovery | |||||||
| Sprint interval ‘Speed-Endurance’ training (track or ergometer) | - | ↑ | ↑↑ | - | - | ↑↑ | ↑ |
| Long interval training (ergometer or road) | ↓↓ | ↓↓ | - | ↓↓ | ↓↓ | ↑↑ | ↑↑↑ |
| Endurance training (ergometer or road) | ↓↓ | ↓↓ | - | ↓↓ | ↓↓ | ↑ | ↑↑↑ |
| Repeated sprint training in hypoxia | - | ↓ (?) | - | ↓ (?) | ↓ (?) | ↑↑ | ↑↑↑ |
| Single legged interval training | - | ↓ (?) | - | ↓ (?) | ↓ (?) | ↑↑ | ↑↑↑ |
Abbreviations: CSA cross-sectional area, MTU muscle-tendon unit, MyHC myosin heavy chain isoform. Training effect key: ↑↑↑, highly positive; ↑↑, moderately positive; ↑, possibly positive effect; ↓↓↓, highly negative; ↓↓, moderately negative; ↓, possibly negative; -, neither positive nor negative; (?), effect uncertain