Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning

Description

It is an essential skill for any strength and conditioning coach to be able to reliably assess the physical performance of their athletes and communicate the results and their implications to performers and coaches, alike. Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning is the first textbook to clearly and coherently suggest the most appropriate and reliable methods for assessing and monitoring athletes’ performance, as well as including detailed sections on testing considerations and the interpretation and application of results. The book explores the full range of considerations required to reliably assess performance, including questions of ethics and safety, reliability and validity, and standardised testing, before going on to recommend (through a comparison of field- and laboratory-based techniques) the optimal methods for testing all aspects of physical performance, including: injury risk jump performance sprint performance change of direction and agility strength power aerobic performance body composition Closing with a section on interpreting, presenting and applying results to practice, and illustrated with real-life case study data throughout, Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning offers the most useful guide to monitoring athlete performance available. It is an essential text for upper-level strength and conditioning students and practitioners alike. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of contents Figures Tables Boxes Contributors Introduction: The role of assessing and monitoring performance Part I Testing considerations 1 Ethical and health and safety issues Creating a safe and effective testing environment Duty of care in performance testing Risk management and assessment 1. The testing environment 2. Testing equipment 3. Readiness of participants to undergo testing Consideration of special populations References 2 Psychological issues during assessment of performance Self-confidence Activation and “psyching up” Presence of others Psychological skills Coaching cues – attentional focusing Recommendations for assessing performance Self-confidence Activation and “psyching-up” The presence of others Psychological skills Coaching instructions Summary References 3 Reliability, validity and measurement error Introduction Asking the right questions Concurrent validity: “how does the method compare?” Test-retest reliability: “what are the properties of the method?” References 4 Standardisation of testing Introduction When to test Equipment selection Standardising protocols Testing order Data analysis References 5 Structured testing vs. continual monitoring Introduction Structured testing Continual monitoring Combined approaches References Part II Assessment methods 6 Assessment of factors associated with injury risk 6.1 Introduction 6.2 The philosophy behind screening tests 6.3 Understanding the use of screening tests 6.3.1 Reliability and validity in the context of injury screening 6.3.2 Diagnostic accuracy 6.4 Common screening tests 6.4.1 Lower quadrant Movement screening Single-leg squat test Single-leg landing test Drop jump test Tuck jump test Functional movement screen Star excursion balance test Hop for distance tests 6.4.2 Upper quadrant Shoulder tests Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) Test Closed-chain upper-limb test 6.5 Muscle strength assessment 6.5.1 Hip strength assessment 6.5.2 Hip adductor strength assessment 6.5.3 Hamstring strength assessment Isokinetic dynamometry NordBordTM Reciprocal knee joint muscle strength imbalance Bilateral strength imbalance 6.7 Summary References 7 Vertical jump testing 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Equipment 7.2.1 Force platform 7.2.2 Field-based equipment 7.3 Protocols 7.3.1 Arm.swing 7.3.2 Starting position 7.3.3 Countermovement technique 7.3.4 Jump technique 7.3.5 Landing position 7.4 Data analysis 7.4.1 Determining bodyweight (weighing phase) 7.4.2 Forward dynamics 7.4.2.1 Integration start point and frequency 7.4.2.2 Velocity 7.4.2.3 Displacement 7.4.2.4 Work 7.4.2.5 Power 7.4.3 Phase identification 7.4.3.1 Onset of movement threshold 7.4.3.2 Unweighting phase 7.4.3.3 Braking phase 7.4.3.4 Propulsion phase 7.4.3.5 Flight phase 7.4.3.5.1 Take-off and touchdown threshold 7.4.3.6 Landing phase 7.4.4 Calculating mean, peak and sum variables 7.4.5 Calculating jump height 7.4.5.1 Flight time method 7.4.5.2 Take-off velocity method 7.5 Data interpretation 7.6 References 8 Sprint testing 8.1 Introduction to linear speed 8.2 Sprint testing equipment 8.2.1 Introduction 8.2.2 Hand-held timing devices 8.2.3 Radar guns and laser devices 8.2.4 Photocell systems – timing gates 8.2.5 The Optojump system 8.3 Sprint testing methodological considerations 8.3.1 Starting position 8.3.2 Distance behind the start line 8.3.3 Number of trials 8.3.4 Sprint distances, intervals and flying times 8.3.5 Other extraneous factors 8.3.6 Interpretation of results 8.4 Conclusion 8.5 References 9 Change of direction and agility Assessment of change of direction speed Assessment of agility Video-based systems Human stimulus Practical implications Summary References 10 Strength – isometric and dynamic testing Introduction Strength testing – review of the literature Maximal dynamic testing Strength testing – practical applications – testing protocols Maximal dynamic testing Conclusions References 11 Assessment of power 1. Introduction 2. Jumping.power 3. Power as a performance-determining factor 4. Measuring power: methodological issues 4.1 Force-platform method 4.2 Combined method 4.3 Single-point methods 4.4 Body segmental analysis methods 4.5 Computation method 5. Conclusion References 12 Aerobic performance assessment Part 1 Introduction Aerobic energy production Aerobic capacity Assessing aerobic capacity Maximal rate of oxygen consumption Exercise economy Measuring VO2max and exercise economy Verifying VO2max Expressing exercise economy Lactate threshold/gas exchange threshold Lactate turnpoint/respiratory compensation.point Incremental exercise testing Fractional utilisation of VO2max Critical power/velocity Maximal lactate steady state Part 2 Step incremental treadmill test Test implementation Data interpretation Ramp incremental cycling test + verification bout Test implementation Data interpretation Twenty-metre multi-stage shuttle run test Test implementation Data interpretation Yo-yo intermittent recovery test level 1 and level 2 Test implementation Data interpretation Five × 6-second cycle test Test implementation Data interpretation Three-minute all-out test Test implementation Data interpretation References 13 Body composition assessment Part 1 Introduction Body composition tissues Fat mass Lean mass Bone mineral content Body composition and sporting performance Measurement methodology – whole-body level Body mass Stature Girths Measurement methodology – cellular and tissue level Densitometry Skinfold assessment Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry Bioelectrical impedance analysis Comparing results from differing methods Case study example from practice Conclusion Part 2 Whole body anthropometry (body mass) Equipment Participant standardisation procedure Testing procedure Whole body anthropometry (stature) Equipment Participant standardisation procedure Testing procedure Surface anthropometry (girths) Equipment Participant standardisation procedure Testing procedure Surface anthropometry (skinfolds) Equipment Participant standardisation procedure Testing procedure Air displacement plethysmography (ADP) Equipment Participant standardisation procedure Testing procedure Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) Equipment Participant standardisation procedure Testing procedure Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) Equipment Participant standardisation procedure Testing procedure References 14 Combined assessment methods Part 1 – Review of literature 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Combined assessment methods Dynamic strength deficit / index Eccentric utilisation ratio and pre-stretch augmentation percentage Force-velocity profiles Reactive strength index Reactive strength index – modified Part 2 – Practical applications of combined assessment methods Monitoring application of dynamic strength deficit/index Monitoring application of eccentric utilisation ratio Monitoring application of force-velocity profiles Monitoring application of reactive strength index Monitoring application of reactive strength index-modified Summary References Part III Interpretation and application 15 Interpretation of results Section I Introduction Why test? Considerations for testing and interpretation Results Discussion of key concepts Results Discussion of key concepts Results Discussion of key concepts Results Discussion of key concepts Testing biomotor abilities Section II Applied case examples Applied performance assessment case example 1 Applied performance assessment case example 2 Applied performance assessment case example 3 Applied performance assessment case example 4 Conclusion References 16 Presentation and communication of results Introduction Forest.plots Traffic-light systems Univariate scatterplots Radar.charts Scatter.plots Verbal communication of results References 17 Application to training Section 1 Introduction Sport science and athlete monitoring: brief background and history Research studies Study Example 1: Nonfunctional overreaching during off-season training for skill position players in collegiate American ... Study Example 2: Changes in muscle architecture, explosive ability, and track and field throwing performance throughout a ... Section 2 Monitoring the training prescription: quantifying volume load Volume load with displacement Monitoring adaptation(s) Neuromuscular aspects and laboratory-based monitoring options Brief history of monitoring strength characteristics Monitoring ramifications for training age and history Using data in an attempt to identify training level and age Maximum strength and explosive strength: training and monitoring considerations Explosive strength and power Maximal strength Summary References Index