15548 - Physical Training Theory and Methodology

Learning outcomes

The student will able to employ simple field tests for the evaluation of sports. Main aspect of the sports will be identifiable and trainable, according to the performance model. Will be able to identify the form and functions of muscle of the body, how the anatomy, physiology, motor control and biomechanics interact to build the performance. At the end of the course the student will be able to write an appropriate schedule for training in sport, from school children to athletes.  Abilities to understand and use graphs and tables will be acquired. The student will be able to connect principles from different basic sciences in order to have a complete picture of the training process.  The training of top performance in high level athletes is beyond the scope of this course, and will be taught in the magister. 

Course contents

Module 1.

Sciences and opinions.

Definitions and hystorical excursus on the concept of training and trainingability.  Galenus, Philostratus and Aristoteles, Vitruvio, Leonardo da Vinci and  Cartesian concepts of body  training and body theories

The Nordic Natural School:  Jhan, Link and Hebert.  The moderns: Mateveev, Verchoshansky , Zatsiorsky and the Russian School. The England school and the track and field training. Concepts of Periodization: Macro, meso and micro-cycles.  The doping effect.

Definitions of load , progressivity of training loads, training stimuli. The general adaption syndrome by Seyle. Local and general GAS. Neuro-endocrine responses. Single factor and double factors theory of adaptation to the training loads. The Super-compensation principle. Interferences in the strength-endurance training: concurrent effect, antagonistic effect.

Module 2.

Taxonomy of physical activities in accord to the energy production systems: aerobic, anaerobic and mixed processes.  The 9 variables in the manipulation of the single training session.

Taxonomy of physical activities in accord to neuromuscular control: power and dexterity activities. Continuous Energy supply during the performance and ratio of substrate utilization during the performance. Time and modalities of the recovery process after the different energy storage complete or semi- exhaustion. 

Sports Taxonomy and energy supply. Training methods and link with energy supply systems. Training methods to be used in different sports.  The interval training method.

Half-duration endurance and its development. Lactate-driven training intensities.

Module 3.

Basic Physics for the understanding of training dimensions. Velocities, accelerations, forces, vectors.

Module 4.

Strength and power

The bilateral deficit and neuromuscular control of the strength output.  Angles and range of motions in the strength and power production. Wingate test, Margaria-Kalamen test, RAST test (repeated sprinting). The co-contraction and bi-articular muscle in closed chain movements.  Concepts of maximal strength according to Zatsiorsky, Harre, Kuznezov, Donskoy. The Hill's Curve.  Eccentric and concentric power and strength production. The 3D Hill Curve tension-length-velocity. Force production and force sensing: kinaesthetic capabilities in upper and lower limbs.

Module 5. Strenght

Static and dynamic strength. Definition and markers of rapid and explosive strength output. Strength curves and introduction to dynamometry. Difference between sports in power production. Neural factors in strength production. The stretch-shortening effect.  Elastic and serial components of the muscle. Muscles and spindle reflexes activations. Neuronal adaptation: temporal and spatial effects. Jumps: squat jumps, CMSJ.  Explosive and reactive strength.

Evolution of strength by age in different sports. High and broad jumps as methods for power development.

Slow and fast fibres interplays in strength and power production. Inferences about muscle fibres contents of different muscles and athletes. Different methods of exercising for fast strength power output.

Enduring strength production and fatigue. Isometric strength, abdominal muscle strength. Isokinetic testing and inferences on muscle fibres contents and power development along the range of motion. Circuit training.

Module 6. Specific aspects of strength.

Flexors and extensor ratios, individual behaviour in strength production. Isokinetic force/velocity relationship. Strength curves and slopes.  RFD: rate of force development. Estimation of maximal strength from submaximal testing. Different kinds of dynamometers.

Module 7.

Methods of strength training. Kind of strength , execution modalities and kind of muscular tension. Isometric methods. Concentric methods. Eccentric methods. Effect of loads and emg assessment. Plyometric and mixed methods. Electro stimulation of muscle fibres in vivo.  Pros and cons of the various strength regimes. The Bulgarian system. Contrast methods. Concentric regimen of strength training and sports.

Module 8. Anatomy for strength.

The warm-up.  Lower limbs muscles and training exercise for the development of sport abilities.  Safety issues in overloads training. The feedback.   The Squat exercise: muscular actions and differences by biomechanical constrains.  Machines and strength training.

Module 9.  Upper limb anatomy and methods for strength training in the upper limb. Joints and muscle mechanics during exercises for the upper limb. The bench exercise. Upper arm and fore arm exercise.

Module 10.

Strength and hypertrophy enhancement.  Pre and post fatiguing methods. Superseries, Burning series.  Assisted methods.

Module 11.

Maximal strength theory and practice.  Classifications, loads, snatch and jerk exercises biomechanics. Gender differences in strength development and training: endogenous hormonal factors.  Strength, aging and gender issues.  Strength and bone in the developmental age. Biological age, loads on the spine.

Module 12.

Dynamometry. Hand dynamometry as general strengths marker. Trunk strength. Physiology of maximal strength production, fibres hypertrophy and neural factors interplay and methods for its stimulation in the training process. The Pyramidal method.

Module 13.

The endurance. Thresholds definitions and assessment.  Conconi test, Cooper test, Leger test and its variants. Mader test and the lactate. Step tests. Mognoni-Cerretelli test . Lactate thresholds: various methods and assessment problems.

Module 14.

The Vo2 max test : procedures and rationale. The treadmill utilization, metabolimeters and oxygen and CO2 measurement. Interplay with lactate accumulation. Procedures, ethics and safety of maximal respiratory testing.

Module 15.

Science of flexibility. Definition. Relationship with anatomy and tissue properties: water contents, compliance , stiffness. Various kind of flexibility, its trainability, its relative importance in different sports. Angles, stretching, dynamics and static methods, gender differences, hormonal factor in muscle tone regulation and muscle tone assessment. Different tests for flexibility assessment and improvement, for school sport and top performance.

Module 16.

Reactivity and rapidity.  Reaction time assessment. Stimuli-response coupling in sport.  Speed and super speed. Tapping test and rapidity tests and development. Cognition and psychological factors. Social factors.

Module 17.

Sport biomechanics: methods. Applications and example of biomechanical assessment to various sports and movements.  Biomechanical testing  and interpretation of results for the improvement of the training process. Qualitative and quantitative methods. Meaningfulness of biomechanical measurement and testing for the field: athletes and coaches feedbacks.

Module 18.

Body balance testing and developments: objective methods and some methodological issues in sport. Psychological factors.

Module 19.

Ergometry, dynamometry: Instruments and issues. Work simulators, sport simulators, assessment and technical issues. Reliability, sensitivity, precision and usage for in field assessment. Tradmills, cycloergometers, sport ergometers,  isokinetic dynamometry

Module 20.

The Motor reaction. Psychophysics of reaction times. Simple and complex reaction times. The recovery process.

Readings/Bibliography

Matveev L.P. The general theory of sport and the system of training athletes: a manual. / L.P. Matveev Kiev Olympic Literature, 1999. 317 p.

Scienza e pratica dell' allenamento della forza di Valdimir M. Zatsiorsky, William J. Kraemer e A. Lombardi (1 gen. 2008)

Gymnastics: How to Create Champions : The Theory and Methodology of Training Top-Class Gymnasts di L. I. Arkaev e N. G. Suchilin (ott. 2004)

Scienza e pratica dell'allenamento della forza di Valdimir M. Zatsiorsky, William J. Kraemer e A. Lombardi (1 gen. 2008)

Science And Practice of Strength Training di Vladimir M. Zatsiorsky e William J. Kraemer (30 mag. 2006)

Biochemical Monitoring of Sport Training . Atko Viru , Mehis Viru (2001)

Teaching methods

The lessons are class activities and field activities.

Assessment methods

The final exam will be written with multi-choice answers to 30 questionsr.  The scores will be in 30 grade points, being 18 the minimum grade and 30 cum laude the maximum grade point.  

For international students a table of ECTS credits conversion is available in Unibo website.

Material is available on facebook page: METHODOLOGY OF TRAINING,

 

Teaching tools

slides of the lessons are available in Alma-DL Unibo databases, under the search criteria: Cicchella

Office hours

See the website of Ivan Malagoli Lanzoni

See the website of Sandro Bartolomei