Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning

✍ Scribed by Paul Comfort (editor), Paul A. Jones (editor), John J. McMahon (editor)

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2018
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 383
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

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.

✦ Table of Contents

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
NordBord^TM
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 VO_2max and exercise economy
Verifying VO_2max
Expressing exercise economy
Lactate threshold/gas exchange threshold
Lactate turnpoint/respiratory compensation.point
Incremental exercise testing
Fractional utilisation of VO_2max
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