The effects of 8-week complex training on lower-limb strength and power of Chinese elite female modern pentathlon athletes

Zining Qiao; Zhenxiang Guo; Bin Li; Meng Liu; Guozhen Miao; Limingfei Zhou; Dapeng Bao; Junhong Zhou

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.977882

The effects of 8-week complex training on lower-limb strength and power of Chinese elite female modern pentathlon athletes

Front Psychol. 2022 Oct 25:13:977882. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.977882. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Zining Qiao¹, Zhenxiang Guo², Bin Li³, Meng Liu⁴, Guozhen Miao⁵, Limingfei Zhou¹, Dapeng Bao⁶, Junhong Zhou⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Strength and Conditioning Training, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
² Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China.
³ Cycling and Fencing Sports Administrative Center Under the General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing, China.
⁴ Sports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
⁵ Maranatha High School, Pasadena, CA, United States.
⁶ China Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
⁷ Harvard Medical School, Hebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Boston, MA, United States.

Abstract

Complex training (CT) is a combination training method that alternates between performing high-load resistance training (RT) and plyometric training within one single session. The study aimed to examine the effects of CT on lower-limb strength and power of elite female modern pentathlon athletes under the new modern pentathlon format and competition rules. Ten female participants (age: 23.55 ± 2.22 years, weight: 60.59 ± 3.87 kg, height: 169.44 ± 4.57 cm, and training experience: 6.90 ± 2.08 years) of the national modern pentathlon team completed 8 weeks of RT as followed by 8 weeks of CT, with 2 weeks of break. Then, the participants conducted 8 weeks of CT, which included RT combined with plyometric training (e.g., drop jump and continuous jump). All stages of training were designed by the linear strength training period theories, requiring participants to train twice for the first 4 weeks and three times for the second 4 weeks. The one-repetition maximum (1RM) of squat, isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), counter-movement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), pre-stretch augmentation percentage (PSAP), and reaction strength index (RSI) were assessed before and after both RT and CT training. One-way repeated-measure ANOVA models revealed that the 1RM of squat was significantly improved (p < 0.001) after RT as compared to pre-RT. No significant improvement in IMTP (p = 0.055), CMJ (p = 0.194), SJ (p = 0.692), PSAP (p = 0.087), and RSI (p = 0.238) was not observed. After CT, 1RM of squat (p < 0.001), IMTP (p < 0.035), CMJ (p < 0.001), SJ (p < 0.008), RSI (p < 0.006) were significant improved as compared to pre-RT, post-RT and pre-CT, while significant improvements in PSAP were observed as compared to pre-RT (p = 0.003) and pre-CT (p = 0.027), but not to post-RT (p = 0.156). This pilot study showed the promise of CT following RT to improve lower-limb strength and power in elite female modern pentathlon athletes. The findings are worthwhile to be confirmed in future studies with larger sample size and randomized design.

Keywords: complex training; female athletes; lower extremity; modern pentathlon; power.