LEC2: Strength Testing and Monitoring

Question 1

Why do we strength test?

Answer 1

1. Evaluation: performance, injury risk
2. Program feedback
3. Future programming
4. Wellness/readiness monitoring
5. Confidence building
6. Competition amongst peers

Question 2

Things to consider when planning strength testing

Answer 2

1. Timing within the annual calendar (in season VS out of competition)
2. State of fitness VS fatigue (de-load weeks)
3. Training age (neural adaptation, complex VS basic testing [1RM VS MRM])
4. Motivation (max effort / intent given)

Question 3

What is strength testing measuring?

Answer 3

1. Isometric / Isokinetic / Dynamic
2. Strength VS Endurance
3. Power (FxV): vertical and horizontal

Valid/Reliable/Repeatable: how difficult is the test to conduct for the assessors? Novel VS familiar tasks, is familiarization period needed?

Question 4

NHL Combine - 2023

Answer 4

• Pull-ups (Max BW)
• Bench Press (3 reps w/ velocity tracking, 50% relative)
• Standing long
• CMJ / SJ on force plates
• Grip Strength
• Pro Agility
• Wingate
• VO2
• Anthropometrics
• FMS

Question 5

How to create a testing battery

Answer 5

• Are the results from the test actionable?
  – Programming
  – Injury risk identification
• What resources and staff will be needed?
  – Equipment
  – Time
  – Space > Lab vs Field testing
• What interference effect will the tests have on each other?
  – Number of tests included
  – Rest time between tests
• How will the sport specific staff (coach, manager, etc) view the results?
  – Selection
  – Punitive
• What psychological impact will the testing have on the athletes?
  – Novel vs Familiar tasks
  – Publicized results and standards

Question 6

Types of testing with tech

Answer 6

• Force Plates
• Velocity based testing (VBT Summary)
  – Flex / RepOne / Vitruve / GymAware
• MyJump Lab app
  – Most jump metrics; Velocity profile; Kinograms; wellness; motion capture > AI driven

Question 7

Ways to present the results

Answer 7

Clear and concise
– Clean tables/images
– Normative comparisons

• Easily digested statistics
  – % change
  – Z-scores = (Athlete score – Benchmark
  Score)/Standard deviation
• “how far the athlete’s score is away from the average”
  Need large enough sample size to be practical

Question 8

Monitoring: internal load

Answer 8

• Heart Rate
• Blood Lactate
• Oxygen Consumption
• RPE

Question 9

Monitoring: external load

Answer 9

• Distance
• Speed/Accelerations
• Accelerometry
• Training Time
• RT Volume

Question 10

Things to consider when collecting and analyzing data

Answer 10

• Observe and collect, observe and collect
• Choose measures that make sense, fit your budget, and are actionable

Question 11

Things to consider when implementing monitoring data

Answer 11

• monitor for trends, do not react reflectively: .physically hard training is required to prepare athletes for the
  demands of competition but also (be) aware that excessive loading can
  result in increased injury risk
• Respect and work within limitations pragmatically: A consistent and rigorous approach in a program over an extended period, even with a method that has some limitations, may provide meaningful data and influence practice, particularly if used in conjunction with other objective and subjective measures.”