Supertraining

The studies I referred to some time ago are now published in the latest J. 
Strength and Cond. Research, from pubmed:

1: J Strength Cond Res. 2008 Apr 15 [Epub ahead of print]
 
    An Examination of Training on the VertiMax Resisted Jumping Device for 
Improvements in Lower Body Power in Highly Trained College Athletes.

Rhea MR, Peterson MD, Oliverson JR, Ayllón FN, J Potenziano B.

Training to develop superior muscular power has become a key component to most 
progressive sport conditioning programs. Conventional resistance training, 
plyometrics, and speed/agility modalities have all been employed in an effort 
to realize superlative combinations of training stimuli. New training devices 
such as the VertiMax resisted jump trainer are marketed as a means of improving 
lower body reactive power. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the VertiMax, in combination with traditional training 
modalities, for improvements in lower body power among highly trained athletes. 
Forty men and women Division I collegiate athletes representing the sports of 
baseball, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and track completed a 12-week 
mixed-methods training program. Two groups were constructed with both groups 
performing the same conventional resistance training and strength training 
exercises.

The training control group performed
 traditional plyometric exercises while the experimental group performed 
similar loaded jump training on the VertiMax. Lower body power was measured 
before and after the training program by the TENDO FiTROdyne Powerlizer and 
statistically compared for differences between groups. Data analyses identified 
a significant (p < 0.05) and meaningful difference between power development 
among the 2 groups, with the VertiMax eliciting a greater treatment effect 
(effect size = 0.54) over conventional resistance and plyometric training alone 
(effect size = 0.09).

**These data convincingly demonstrate that the VertiMax represents an effective 
strategy for developing lower body power among trained college athletes, when 
combined with traditional strength and conditioning approaches.**

======================
 The Effectiveness of Resisted Jump Training on the VertiMax in High School 
Athletes.
2: J Strength Cond
 Res. 2008 Apr 15 [Epub ahead of print]

Rhea MR, Peterson MD, Lunt KT, Ayllón FN.

Resisted jumping devices and resisted plyometric training have become more 
common in recent years. The effectiveness of such training has yet to be 
determined among high school athletes. Sixty-four high school athletes (50 boys 
and 14 girls) from a variety of sports were divided into 2 groups and 
participated in a training intervention that differed only by the use of the 
VertiMax jump trainer in 1 group. Lower-body power was tested before and after 
the intervention and compared statistically for differences between the groups. 
Athletes from both groups followed a periodized training program with 
resistance exercises performed 2 or 3 days per week, and sprint and plyometric 
training (i.e., training control group) or sprint, plyometric, and VertiMax 
training (i.e., VertiMax group) 1 or 2 days per week, for 12 total weeks.

In addition to the traditional compound lower-body lifts and equated sprint 
work, the VertiMax group performed supplementary exercises
 on the VertiMax training apparatus. The average improvement in power observed 
in the training control group was 49.50 +/- 97.83 W, and the increase in power 
in the VertiMax group was 217.14 +/- 99.21 W. The differences in power after 
the test and improvements in power with training were found to differ between 
the groups (P < 0.05) and favored the VertiMax training group.

**Combined with previous research with college athletes, these data show the 
added effectiveness of resisted jump training on the VertiMax among athletes 
for the development of lower-body power.

====================

Commenting on the previous study by McClenton et al I was surprised by their 
choice of such low resistance (15 lb) and regressing jump amount, whil in 
contrast the plyometric group increased in both heigth and amount of jumps 
during the progression of the training.

Kind regards,
Drs. Martin Huizing
The Netherlands



----- Original Message ----
From: carruthersjam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 6:19:24 PM
Subject: [Supertraining] VertiMax vs. Depth Jump Training


The below may be of interest:

The Effect of Short-Term VertiMax vs. Depth Jump Training on Vertical
Jump Performance.

Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 22(2):321-325, March
2008.
McClenton, LaKeysha S; Brown, Lee E; Coburn, Jared W; Kersey, Robert
D
Abstract:

The ability to generate lower body explosive power is considered an
important factor in many athletic activities. Thirty-one men and
women, recreationally trained volunteers, were randomly assigned to 3
different groups (control, n = 10; VertiMax, n = 11; and depth jump,
n = 10). A Vertec measuring device was used to test vertical jump
height pre- and post-training. All subjects trained twice weekly for
6 weeks, performing approximately 140 jumps. The VertiMax group
increased elastic resistance and decreased volume each week, while
the depth jump group increased both box height and volume each week.
The depth jump group significantly increased their vertical jump
height (pre: 20.5 +/- 3.98; post: 22.65 +/- 4.09), while the VertiMax
(pre: 22.18 +/- 4.31; post: 23.36 +/- 4.06) and control groups (pre:
15.65 +/- 4.51; post: 15.85 +/- 4.17) did not change.

These findings suggest that, within the volume and intensity
constraints of this study, depth jump training twice weekly for 6
weeks is more beneficial than VertiMax jump training for increasing
vertical jump height. Strength professionals should focus on depth
jump exercises in the short term over commercially available devices
to improve vertical jump performance.

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