The effects of periodized velocity-specific resistance training on maximal and sustained force production in women

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of slow, fast or periodized slow and fast resistance training on voluntary, maximal and sustained force production. Altogether, 34 active females were pre-tested for maximal force production (MXF) and 20-repetition mean force production (MNF) at 1.05 and 3.14 rad s-1 (60 and 180 deg s-1). They were then randomly placed into one of four groups: group S trained for 8 weeks at 1.05 rad s-1, group F trained for 8 weeks at 3.14 rad s-1, group P trained for 5 weeks at 1.05 rad s-1 and 3 weeks at 3.14 rad s-1, while group C acted as the controls. Groups S, F and P demonstrated significant increases in MXF and MNF at 1.05 and 3.14 rad s-1. The increases in MXF were similar between the trained groups, whereas groups S and P demonstrated significantly greater increases in MNF than group F at 1.05 rad s-1 and group P exhibited significantly greater increases in MNF than group S at 3.14 rad s-1. These results suggest that, regardless of training velocity, similar increases in MXF are produced at 1.05 and 3.14 rad s-1, whereas periodized slow and fast resistance training may produce greater increases in MNF than slow or fast training alone.