Concentric and/or eccentric training-induced alterations in shoulder flexor and extensor strength

• Published in: The journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy 1997-01, Vol.25 (1), p.26-33
• Main Authors: Amiridis, I G, Cometti, G, Morlon, B, Van Hoecke, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Exercise; Female; Humans; Isometric Contraction - physiology; Kinetics; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Probability; Range of Motion, Articular; Sensitivity and Specificity; Shoulder Joint - physiology
• ISSN: 0190-6011; 1938-1344
• DOI: 10.2519/jospt.1997.25.1.26

To examine the effect of specific concentric and eccentric training on muscular strength following an initial standardized period of excessive training, shoulder extensors and flexors were tested. The shoulder is a joint particularly susceptible to injury and requires a specific strength training program. For a period of 12 weeks, subjects performed training, including concentric and eccentric actions. Thereafter, they were divided into three groups that performed specific 12-week programs, including either concentric (C-E/C), eccentric (C-E/E), or a combination of both concentric and eccentric exercises (C-E/C-E). Following the initial period of training, significant increases (p < 0.05) in performance were observed for all experimental groups. The C-E/C group showed significant increases (p < 0.05) in performance after 24 weeks of training, especially at high concentric angular velocities. However, the C-E/E group showed significant increases (p < 0.05) only in their eccentric moments. No significant differences were noted for the C-E/C-E group. These findings seem to partly confirm the mode-specificity principle, as only the concentric-specific training program improved concentric and eccentric strength. Moreover, the velocity-specificity principle was strongly supported.