The rigorous demands of modern sport led prominent coaches to propose alternatives to traditional periodization. One representative model among these new trends is block periodization (BP). The main theoretical benefits of BP are: a) better possibilities to design multi-peak preparations; b) reasonable reductions of total training volume; c) ways to avoid negative interactions between different fitness components; and d) increased control over residual training effects (Issurin, 2008). Unfortunately, there are very few studies that have explored the effects of contemporary periodization and even less that have done so using elite athletes. Therefore, it was the purpose of this study to examine changes in selected physiological and performance variables in a group of top-level athletes across a 10-wk training cycle using a BP approach. Methods: Fourteen top-level kayakers underwent a battery of tests, being assessed three times across two 5-wk training blocks. On each occasion, subjects completed an incremental test to exhaustion on the kayak ergometer for the determination of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), second ventilatory threshold (VT2), peak lactate (Lapeak), paddling speed at VO2max (PSmax) and at VT2 (PSVT2), stroke rate at VO2max (SRmax) and at VT2(SRVT2). One-repetition maximum (1RM) and mean velocity with 45% 1RM load (V45%) were assessed in the bench press (BNP) and prone bench pull (PBP) exercises. The main training goals of each block were: B1, anaerobic threshold and muscle hypertrophy; and B2, aerobic power and maximal strength. Results: The BP training approach resulted in significant increases in VO2max (12.7%), VO2 at VT2 (8.1%), PSmax (3.0%), PSVT2 (5.0%), 1RM in BNP (9.3%) and PBP (10.2%), with no significant changes for Lapeak, SRmax, SRVT2 and V45% in BP and PBP. Discussion: Changes in VO2max in only 10-wk of training are of similar magnitude to those described in previous studies with high-level kayakers (Bunc and Heller, 1994; Tesch et al., 1976), although the latter were accomplished after considerably longer training. The high values for strength and endurance parameters found in this study are in agreement with those reported by other investigators that studied high-level kayakers (Tesch et al., 1983) and demonstrate the great requirements of muscle strength and aerobic power of Olympic canoeing. Prioritizing the development of fitness components (one endurance and one strength component per block), by selectively concentrating load on 5-wk training blocks, seems to be an effective strategy for improving physiological and performance markers of highly trained top-level athletes with great requirements of both, strength and endurance.
© Copyright 2009 14th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Oslo/Norway, June 24-27, 2009, Book of Abstracts. Julkaistu Tekijä The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator