TY - JOUR
T1 - The Competition-Day Preparation Strategies of Strongman Athletes
AU - Winwood, Paul W
AU - Pritchard, Hayden J
AU - Wilson, Daniel
AU - Dudson, Mike
AU - Keogh, Justin W L
PY - 2019/9/1
Y1 - 2019/9/1
N2 - Winwood, PW, Pritchard, HJ, Wilson, D, Dudson, M, and Keogh, JWL. The competition-day preparation strategies of strongman athletes. J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2308-2320, 2019-This study provides the first empirical evidence of the competition-day preparation strategies used by strongman athletes. Strongman athletes (n = 132) (mean ± SD: 33.7 ± 8.1 years, 178.2 ± 11.1 cm, 107.0 ± 28.6 kg, 12.8 ± 8.0 years general resistance training, 5.9 ± 4.8 years strongman implement training) completed a self-reported 4-page internet survey on their usual competition-day preparation strategies. Analysis of the overall group and by sex, age, body mass, and competitive standard was conducted. Ninety-four percent of strongman athletes used warm-ups in competition, which were generally self-directed. The typical warm-up length was 16.0 ± 8.9 minutes, and 8.5 ± 4.3 minutes was the perceived optimal rest time before the start of an event. The main reasons for warming up were injury prevention, to increase activation, and increase blood flow/circulation, temperature, and heart rate. Athletes generally stated that competition warm-ups were practiced in training. Dynamic stretching, foam rolling, and myofascial release work were performed during warm-ups. Warm-up intensity was monitored using the rate of perceived exertion, perceived speed of movement, and training load (as a percentage of 1 repetition maximum). Cognitive strategies were used to improve competition performance, and psychological arousal levels needed to increase or be maintained in competition. Electrolyte drinks, caffeine, and preworkout supplements were the commonly used supplements. These data will provide strongman athletes and coaches some insight into common competition-day preparation strategies, which may enhance competition performances. Future research could compare different competition-day preparation strategies in an attempt to further improve strongman competition performance and injury prevention.
AB - Winwood, PW, Pritchard, HJ, Wilson, D, Dudson, M, and Keogh, JWL. The competition-day preparation strategies of strongman athletes. J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2308-2320, 2019-This study provides the first empirical evidence of the competition-day preparation strategies used by strongman athletes. Strongman athletes (n = 132) (mean ± SD: 33.7 ± 8.1 years, 178.2 ± 11.1 cm, 107.0 ± 28.6 kg, 12.8 ± 8.0 years general resistance training, 5.9 ± 4.8 years strongman implement training) completed a self-reported 4-page internet survey on their usual competition-day preparation strategies. Analysis of the overall group and by sex, age, body mass, and competitive standard was conducted. Ninety-four percent of strongman athletes used warm-ups in competition, which were generally self-directed. The typical warm-up length was 16.0 ± 8.9 minutes, and 8.5 ± 4.3 minutes was the perceived optimal rest time before the start of an event. The main reasons for warming up were injury prevention, to increase activation, and increase blood flow/circulation, temperature, and heart rate. Athletes generally stated that competition warm-ups were practiced in training. Dynamic stretching, foam rolling, and myofascial release work were performed during warm-ups. Warm-up intensity was monitored using the rate of perceived exertion, perceived speed of movement, and training load (as a percentage of 1 repetition maximum). Cognitive strategies were used to improve competition performance, and psychological arousal levels needed to increase or be maintained in competition. Electrolyte drinks, caffeine, and preworkout supplements were the commonly used supplements. These data will provide strongman athletes and coaches some insight into common competition-day preparation strategies, which may enhance competition performances. Future research could compare different competition-day preparation strategies in an attempt to further improve strongman competition performance and injury prevention.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85071713635&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003267
DO - 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003267
M3 - Article
C2 - 31343547
SN - 1064-8011
VL - 33
SP - 2308
EP - 2320
JO - Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
JF - Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
IS - 9
ER -