Validity and reliability of the single-trial line drill test of anaerobic power in basketball players

AIM

This study evaluated the validity, reliability, and sensitivity of the single-trial line drill test (SLDT) for anaerobic power assessment.

METHODS

Twenty-four volunteers were assigned to either a control (C, N.=12) or an experimental (BP, N.=12 basketball players) group. SLDT's (time-to-complete) concurrent validity was evaluated against the Wingate testing (WAnT: mean [MP] and peak power [PP]) and a 30-sec vertical jump testing test (VJT: mean height and MP). Blood lactate concentration was measured at rest and immediately post-test. SLDT's reliability [test-retest intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV), Bland-Altman plots] and sensitivity were determined (one-way ANOVA).

RESULTS

Kendall's tau correlation analysis revealed correlations (P<0.05) between SLDT time and WAnT's PP (=0.78) and MP (=0.56) and VJT's MP (=0.85) and height (=0.90). SLDT lactate concentration was moderately (P<0.05) correlated with the respective lactate values of WAnT (=0.40) and VJT (=0.66). SLDT time in BP correlated (P<0.05) with VJT's MP (=0.80) and height (=0.90) but not with WAnT performance variables. SLDT lactate responses in BP were moderately (P<0.05) correlated with WAnT's PP (=0.54) and VJT MP (=0.68), height (=0.65), and lactate concentration (=0.65). ICCs for time and lactate were 0.92 and 0.93, respectively (P<0.05) although Bland-Altman plots and CV indicate that SLDT time demonstrated greater reliability than lactate responses. In all tests, BP demonstrated higher (P<0.05) performance levels compared to C indicating an adequate sensitivity for SLDT.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that the SLDT appears to be a valid, reliable, and sensitive field test of anaerobic capacity for basketball players.

Strength training and detraining effects on muscular strength, anaerobic power, and mobility of inactive older men are intensity dependent

BACKGROUND

Although strength training (ST) enhances physical function in the elderly, little is known about the effect of training intensity on training and detraining adaptations in musculoskeletal fitness.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of exercise intensity on strength, anaerobic power, and mobility of older men subjected to a 24 week ST protocol followed by prolonged detraining.

METHODS

Fifty two healthy but inactive older men (mean (SD) age 71.2 (4.1) years) were assigned to a control (n = 14), low intensity training (LIST; n = 18; 55% 1RM), or high intensity training (HIST; n = 20; 82% 1RM) group. They carried out a 24 week, whole body (10 exercises, two to three sets/exercise) ST programme followed by a 48 week detraining period. Upper and lower body strength, anaerobic power (Wingate testing), and mobility (timed up and go, walking, climbing stairs) were measured at baseline and immediately after training and during detraining.

RESULTS

Although low intensity training improved (p<0.05) strength (42-66%), anaerobic power (10%), and mobility (5-7%), high intensity training elicited greater (p<0.05) gains (63-91% in strength, 17-25% in anaerobic power, 9-14% in mobility). All training induced gains in the LIST group had been abolished after four to eight months of detraining, whereas in the HIST group strength and mobility gains were maintained throughout detraining. However, anaerobic power had returned to baseline levels after four months of detraining in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher intensity training protocols induce greater gains in strength, anaerobic power, and whole body physical function of older men. Moreover, higher intensity training may maintain the gains for more prolonged periods after training ceases.

The effects of strength training, cardiovascular training and their combination on flexibility of inactive older adults

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic training, strength training and their combination on joint range of motion of inactive older individuals. Thirty-two inactive older men (65 - 78 yr) were assigned to one of four groups (n = 8 per group): control (C), strength training (ST), cardiovascular training (CT), and combination of strength and aerobic training (SA). Subjects in the S, A, and SA trained three times a week for 16 weeks. ST included 10 resistance exercises for the major muscle groups at an intensity of 55 - 80% of 1-RM and CT included walking/jogging at 50 - 80 % of maximal heart rate. Body weight and height, physical activity level and maximal oxygen uptake (.VO(2)max) were measured before the training period. Isokinetic (60 and 180 deg x sec(-1)) and concentric strength (1-RM in bench and leg press) were assessed prior to and at the end of the training period. Hip flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction, shoulder extension, flexion, and adduction, knee flexion, elbow flexion and sit-and-reach score were determined before and at 8 and 16 weeks of training. There were no differences between groups in .VO(2)max, body weight, and height (p < 0.05). ST and SA but not CT and C increased isokinetic and concentric strength at the end of the training period (p < 0.05). ST and SA increased significantly (p < 0.05) sit-and-reach performance, elbow flexion, knee flexion, shoulder flexion and extension and hip flexion and extension both at mid- and post-training. CT increased (p < 0.05) only hip flexion and extension at post training. Results indicate that resistance training may be able to increase range of motion of a number of joints of inactive older individuals possibly due to an improvement in muscle strength.