Understanding and Optimising Vertical and Horizontal Force Production for Performance in Team Sport Athletes Caleb William Dobbs A Thesis submitted to Auckland University of Technology in fulfillment of the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 2015 Primary Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Nicholas Gill Secondary Supervisor: Prof. Michael McGuigan Associate Supervisor: Dr. Daniel Smart Sports Performance and Research Institute New Zealand AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ATTESTATION OF AUTHORSHIP ......................................................................................... 6 DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................ 7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ 8 LIST OF CO-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS .......................................................................... 9 LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... 10 LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... 11 ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. 13 CHAPTER 1 ....................................................................................................... 16 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 16 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................. 16 1.2 Research Aims ............................................................................................................ 22 1.3 Significance of Thesis ................................................................................................ 23 1.4 Thesis Organisation .................................................................................................... 25 Figure 1.1: Thesis Organisation ......................................................................................... 26 2 CHAPTER 2 ................................................................................................... 27 LITERATURE REVIEW: UNDERSTANDING VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL JUMP TESTS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE.................... 27 2.1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 27 2.1.2 Factors contributing to power in vivo ................................................................. 29 2.1.3 Vertical jump tests of power ............................................................................... 33 2.1.4 Horizontal jump tests of power ........................................................................... 37 2.1.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 41 2.2 SHORT TERM ENHANCEMENT............................................................................ 42 2.2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 42 2.2.2 Acute effects of STE ........................................................................................... 44 2.2.3 Chronic Effects of Short Term Enhancement ..................................................... 48 2.2.4 Effects of Short Term Enhancement on Jump Performance ............................... 51 2.2.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 53 2 3 CHAPTER 3 ................................................................................................... 54 RELIABILITY OF VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL POWER PROFILING IN WELL TRAINED RUGBY PLAYERS ............................................................................................... 54 3.1 Abstract ....................................................................................................................... 54 3.2 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 55 3.3 Methods ...................................................................................................................... 57 3.3.1 Subjects ............................................................................................................... 57 3.3.2 Design.................................................................................................................. 58 3.3.3 Methodology ....................................................................................................... 58 3.3.4 Statistical Analysis .............................................................................................. 61 3.4 Results ........................................................................................................................ 62 3.5 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 66 3.6 Practical Application .................................................................................................. 68 3.7 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 69 4 CHAPTER 4 ................................................................................................... 70 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL JUMP VARIABLES AND MUSCULAR PERFORMANCE IN ATHLETES .................................................................... 70 4.1 Abstract ....................................................................................................................... 70 4.2 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 71 4.3 Methods ...................................................................................................................... 74 4.3.1 Experimental Approach to the Problem .............................................................. 74 4.3.2 Subjects ............................................................................................................... 74 4.3.3 Procedures ........................................................................................................... 75 4.3.4 Statistical Analysis .............................................................................................. 78 4.4 Results ........................................................................................................................ 78 4.5 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 86 4.6 Practical Applications ................................................................................................. 90 3 5 CHAPTER 5 ................................................................................................... 92 THE ACUTE EFFECT OF SHORT TERM ENHANCEMENT COUNTERMOVEMENT AND DROP JUMP PERFORMANCE ..................................................................................... 92 5.1 Abstract ....................................................................................................................... 92 5.2 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 93 5.3 Methods ...................................................................................................................... 95 5.3.1 Subjects ............................................................................................................... 95 5.3.2 Procedures ........................................................................................................... 96 5.3.3 Statistical Analysis .............................................................................................. 99 5.4 Results ........................................................................................................................ 99 5.5 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 103 5.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 105 5.7 Practical Application ................................................................................................ 106 6 CHAPTER 6 .................................................................................................. 107 PERFORMANCE EFFECT OF SHORT TERM ENHANCEMENT THROUGH CONTRAST TRAINING ON HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL JUMP PERFORMANCE .................... 107 6.1 Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 107 6.2 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 108 6.3 Methods .................................................................................................................... 111 6.3.1 Experimental Approach to the Problem ............................................................ 111 6.3.2 Subjects ............................................................................................................