Advanced Strength and Power Training for the Elite Athlete

ADVANCED LEVEL ATHLETES OFTEN DEMONSTRATE PLATEAUS IN STRENGTH AND POWER PERFORMANCE WITH REPEATED EXPOSURE TO TRADITIONAL TRAINING METHODS. MANIPULATION OF THE FORCE-TIME AND POWER-TIME CURVES OF TRADITIONAL EXERCISES MAY OFFER A NOVEL STIMULUS TO BREAK THROUGH SUCH PLATEAUS. THE USE OF TRAINING METHODS, SUCH AS VARIABLE RESISTANCE TRAINING, ECCENTRIC TRAINING, AND OVERSPEED TRAINING, HAS RECEIVED RECENT ATTENTION IN THE LITERATURE. THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE MERITS OF SUCH TRAINING APPROACHES AND PROVIDES PROGRAM DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH WORKING WITH ELITE ATHLETES.