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| Adaptive response of human skeletal
muscle to simulated hypergravity condition. |
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Bosco C.
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| 1985 |
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| NCBI |
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The mechanical behaviour of leg extensor muscles of five international-level
athletes was evaluated during 13 months training period. Drop jumps,
average mechanical power during 15 S continuous jump, and vertical
jumps performed with and without extra weights were used to measure
explosive power characteristics. The data recorded in vertical jumps
was utilized for construction of force-velocity relationship (F-V
curve). The athletes did not show improvement in any of the variables
studied after 12 months of intensive systematic training programme.
It was assumed that the subjects already had reached their upper limit
of performance. However, after that the athletes underwent a simulated
3 weeks high-gravity period. The hypergravitational condition was
created by wearing a special vest filled with extra loads (11% of
BW). The vest was used from morning to evening. No changes in the
ordinary training programme were allowed. After the simulated high-gravity
conditioning period significant improvement in almost all the variables
studied was observed (P less than 0.05-0.001). Vertical jump performance
was enhanced from 44.3 to 54.9 cm. The F-V curve remained stable all
year but after hypergravity period shifted markedly to the right.
The drastic improvement was attributed to be caused by a fast adaptation
to the new functional requirements (I.I g). Therefore, once the biological
adaptation occurred the mechanical behaviour of the athlete's leg
extensor muscle was similar to that which could be experienced in
a field at low gravity condition (0.9 g). Adaptive response to the
hypergravity conditioning was speculated to occur mainly at neurogenic
level and less in myogenic component. |
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