Eccentric Calf Muscle Training For the Improvement of Performance in Long Jump

Bharati Rajak

Research Scholar, School of Studies in Physical Education, Pt. Ravishankar University, Raipur (C.G.) 492010

*Corresponding Author E-mail: bharatirajak@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Background: The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of Eccentric Calf Muscle Training for the Improvement of Performance in Long Jump.

Methodology: For achieve this purpose 20 female Physical Education students were selected from Holly-Cross H. S. School, Raipur there age ranged 16 to 18 between years. In this study students were instructed to do eccentric exercises 2 times daily, 7 days/week, for 12 weeks. In this way the eccentric calf muscle loading was gradually increased. If very high weights were needed, the subjects were told to use a weight machine. This eccentric calf muscle training was developed by Hakan Alfredson, Tom Pietilä, Per Jonsson and Ronny Lorentzon from Sports Medicine Unit, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital of Northern Sweden, Sweden.

Results: The statistical findings of the study showed that there was significant differences was found, when the Heavy - Load Eccentric Calf Muscle Training was experienced. Due to this eccentric training, muscles are able to create more for less work, which has special meaning in the realms of high performance sports, both for optimal performance training and injury prevention. For athletes and sports enthusiasts, this eccentric model can help with explosive force training in order to improve the performance, and trains the body to use the kinetic force driven by Heavy - Load eccentric training more efficiently.

Conclusion: The present study showed that the eccentric calf muscle training program were significantly improved the performance after 12 weeks.

KEY WORDS: Eccentric Training, Training Method

INTRODUCTION:

By nature human beings are competitive and ambitious for excellence in all athletic performances. Not only every man but also every nation wants to show his / its supremacy by challenging the other man/nation. This can be made possible through scientific, systematic and planned sports to identify and nurture human potentialities. The success or failure of an individual athlete depends upon the blending of physical ability, conditioning, training, mental preparation and the ability to perform well under pressure. Over the years physical fitness has become the well-built foundation of a structure that supports many concrete blocks on it which represents all the activities that make life worth living: intellectual life, spiritual life, family life and social life.

To achieve top level performance in the international arena one must have a fitness regimen and systematic execution. To win medals, in the Olympics, there should be spotting of talent, systematic and scientific method of training, competitive exposure, etc. It is not only because of training, but also because of psychological, and physiological aspects that goals are achieved. Experts in the field of sports have put their mind into it and made tremendous efforts to find out ways and means to achieve top level performance.

Eccentric training is defined as active contraction of a muscle occurring simultaneously with lengthening of the muscle. For example, in a biceps curl the action of lowering the dumbbell back down from the lift is the eccentric phase of that exercise as long as the dumbbell is lowered slowly rather than letting it drop. There are three distinct phases in the movement of muscles and tendons: isometric (no movement), concentric (contracting) and eccentric

(Extracting). All three of these stages in muscles movements have an effect on muscle tissues and tendons (tendons are what attach the muscle to the bone).

Eccentric training focuses on slowing down the elongation of the muscle process in order to challenge the muscles, which can lead to stronger muscles, faster muscle repair and increasing metabolic rate. Eccentric movement provides a braking mechanism for muscle and tendon groups that are experiencing concentric movement to protect joints from damage as the contraction is released. Eccentric training is particularly good for casual and high performance athletes or the elderly and patients looking to rehabilitate certain muscles and tendons.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

To find effect Eccentric Calf Muscle Training for the Improvement of Performance in Long Jump for selected subjects.

METHODOLOGY:

For the purpose of the study 20 female Physical Education students were selected from Holly-Cross H.S. School, Raipur there age ranged between 16 to 18 years. In this study students were instructed to do eccentric exercises 2 times daily, 7 days/week, for 12 weeks. During the 12-week training regimen, running activity was allowed if it could be performed with only mild discomfort. Two types of eccentric exercises were used, the calf muscle was eccentrically loaded both with the knee straight and, to maximize the activation of the soleus muscle, also with the knee bent. Each of the two exercises included 15 repetitions done in 3 sets (3 X 15 repetitions).

The subjects were told that muscle soreness during the first 1 to 2 weeks of training was to be expected. In the beginning, the loading consisted of the body weight, and the subjects were standing with all their body weight on the leg. From an upright body position and standing with all body weight on the forefoot and the ankle joint in plantar flexion, the calf muscle was loaded by having the subject lower the heel beneath the forefoot. They were only loading the calf muscle eccentrically, no following concentric loading was done. The subjects were told to go ahead with the exercise even if they experienced pain. However, they were told to stop the exercise if the pain became disabling. When they could perform the eccentric loading exercise without experiencing any minor pain or discomfort, they were instructed to increase the load by adding weight. This could easily be done by using a backpack that was successively loaded with weight. In this way the eccentric calf muscle loading was gradually increased. If very high weights were needed, the subjects were told to use a weight machine.

This eccentric calf muscle training was developed by Hakan Alfredson, Tom Pietilä, Per Jonsson and Ronny Lorentzon from Sports Medicine Unit, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital of Northern Sweden, Sweden.

To find the effect of Eccentric Calf Muscle Training for the Improvement of Performance in Long Jump of selected subjects dependent ‘t’ test was applied. The data was tested by SPSS 16.0, the hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance.

RESULTS OF THE STUDY

Dependent ‘T’ test was applied to investigate the effect of Eccentric Calf Muscle Training for the improvement of performance in Long Jump for selected subject.

The table-1 was showed that the means of long jump performance before giving the eccentric calf muscle training was 4.53 and after inducing the training was 5.11, it can be also seen from table that the value of t statistics is 8.34. This t - value is significant as the p -value is 0.000 which is less than 0.05. Thus it may be concluded that the average of performance of long jump of selected subject in pre and post testing group in the eccentric calf muscle training programme are not same. Since SPSS provides the significant value for two tailed testing.

Table-1 Comparison of mean values between Pre and Post Test for Long Jump for selected subject

Variable

(Long Jump)

Mean

Mean Difference

Std. Deviation

d.f

Standard Error Mean

‘t’ Ratio

P value

Sig.(2 tailed)

Pre Test

4.53

-0.579

0.342

0.069

-8.34*

0.000

Post Test

5.11

0.336

*Significant at 0.05 level, t_0.05(19) = 2.093, Cal t > tab t

DISCUSSION:

The statistical findings of the study showed that there was significant differences was found as the Calculated t_0.05 (=8.34) was greater than tabulated t_.05 (=2.093) when the Eccentric Calf Muscle Training was experienced. Due to this eccentric training, muscles are able to create more for less work, which has special meaning in the realms of high performance sports, both for optimal performance training and injury prevention. For athletes and sports enthusiasts, this eccentric model can help with explosive force training in order to improve the performance, and trains the body to use the kinetic force driven by eccentric training more efficiently.

CONCLUSION:

The findings of the present study could be directly applied to eccentric calf muscle training to improve the long jump performance. The present study showed that the eccentric calf muscle training program were significantly improved the performance after 12 weeks.

REFERENCES:

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www.btetech.com/lit/collateral/BTE-Eccentron-Why-Eccentrics

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eccentric_training

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Received on 31.01.2014 Modified on 20.02.2014

Int. J. Ad. Social Sciences 2(1): Jan. –Mar., 2014; Page 15-17