B2433 - Advanced Strength Training and Conditioning for Health and Performance

Academic Year 2024/2025

Learning outcomes

Strength training and conditioning is essential for sport performance and health. The aim of this course is to provide the students with advanced theoretical knowledge of different strength training and conditioning methods to improve health- and sport-related physical fitness in a variety of populations. During this course, the student will also practice different strength and conditioning exercises and training methods, and learn how to monitor training for better decisions about programming.

Course contents

Course contents are as follows:

Periodization of training

Introduction: principles of training

Periodization of training: historical perspective

Periodization of training: scientific perspective

Strength and power training

Training for maximum strength

Training for muscle power

Recent advances in strength training (e.g., blood flow restriction, isometric preactivation, total body vs. split routines)

Resistance training for special populations

Interaction of training and diet for muscle hypertrophy

Endurance Training
Determinants of Endurance performance (physiological and psychological)

Domains of exercise intensity

Quantification of endurance training load

Distribution of endurance training intensity

Cardiorespiratory fitness: implications for health and performance

Adaptations to different endurance training methods

Endurance training for special populations

Laboratory practices

Practical experience with different training methods

Readings/Bibliography

Books

Haff, G. G., & Triplett, N. T. (Eds.) (2015). Essentials of strength training and conditioning 4th Edition. NSCA/Human Kinetics.

Turner, A., Comfort P. (Eds.) (2022) Advanced Strength and Conditioning An Evidence-based Approach 2nd Edition. Routledge.

Reuter, B. (Ed.) (2012). Developing Endurance. NSCA/Human Kinetics.

Articles

Original research articles and literature reviews will be provided during the course on the platform Virtual Learning Environment


Teaching methods

Traditional lectures

Practice lectures

Student debates (viewpoint and and point-counterpoint)

Small group work

On request, tutorials to be privately arranged with the lecturers

Assessment methods

Oral exam on course content. During the oral exam, the student will be asked to propose a strength and conditioning program for a given case study and to justify it based on the scientific evidence presented during the course.

Teaching tools

Virtual Learning Environment platform which includes announcements and online discussions, scientiffic articles, presentation slides and other teaching material.

Exercise Physiology Labs

Alma Gym Rimini

Office hours

See the website of Ricardo Augusto Barbieri

See the website of Sandro Bartolomei