importance of strength
Over time my interpretation of ‘strength is important’ has become more nuanced. Initially coming from a large focus on traditional strength training methods followed by a more balanced discussion on strength as an underpinning characteristic that provides capacity to perform and withstand the repeated training stresses required to actually become a skilled athlete. Further, as discussed in another section, the capacity - skill dance, is the idea that strength is one of many interacting constraints of the system that influences our movement. However, strength as a single physical quality has such a vast influence on a wide array of activities and performances that its influence cannot be overlooked while it also shouldn’t be sought in a way that sacrifices the need for holistic development of an athlete.
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Nimphius, S., McBride, J. M., Rice, P. E., et al. (2019). Comparison of quadriceps and hamstring muscle activity during an isometric squat between strength-matched men and women. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 18(1), 101-108. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30787657 (Open Access)
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Parsonage, J., Secomb, J., Dowse, R., Ferrier, B., Sheppard, J., & Nimphius, S. (2018). The assessment of isometric, dynamic, and sports-specific upper-body strength in male and female competitive surfers. Sports, 6(2), 53. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6020053 (Open Access)
Suchomel, T. J., Nimphius, S., & Stone, M. H. (2016). The importance of muscular strength in athletic performance. Sports Medicine, 46(10), 1419–1449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0486-0 (Open Access)
Spiteri, T., Nimphius, S., Hart, N. H., Specos, C., Sheppard, J. M., & Newton, R. U. (2014). Contribution of strength characteristics to change of direction and agility performance in female basketball athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(9), 2415–2423. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000547 (Open Access)
Spiteri, T., Cochrane, J. L., Hart, N. H., Haff, G. G., & Nimphius, S. (2013). Effect of strength on plant foot kinetics and kinematics during a change of direction task. European Journal of Sport Science, 13(6), 646–652. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2013.774053
Nimphius, S., McGuigan, M. R., & Newton, R. U. (2012). Changes in muscle architecture and performance during a competitive season in female softball players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(10), 2655–2666. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318269f81e (Open Access)
Nimphius, S., McGuigan, M. R., & Newton, R. U. (2010). Relationship between strength, power, speed, and change of direction performance of female softball players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(4), 885–895. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181d4d41d (Open Access)