(03) EFFECT OF TRADITIONAL AND CLUSTER SET STRUCTURES ON BAR PATH KINEMATICS DURING HIGH-VOLUME POWER CLEAN TRAINING

Background: Exercise-induced fatigue can alter lifting technique (i.e., barbell trajectories) when performing multiple repetitions with weightlifting exercises. To address this issue modifying the set structure has been suggested as a method for maintaining consistent lifting technique. However, this recommendation has not been examined when high-volume weightlifting sessions are performed.

Purpose: To investigate changes in bar path kinematics during a high-volume power clean training session performed using a traditional set (TRAD) and cluster set (CLU) structure.

Methods: Eleven strength-power athletes (9 males; 2 females), with the ability to power clean ≥1.0 times body mass were recruited for this study. All subjects completed a total of three sessions. In Session 1, subjects completed a one repetition maximum (1RM) power clean testing protocol. Sessions 2 and 3 required the performance of TRAD or CLU protocols in a randomized order. The TRAD set protocol involved three sets of nine repetitions of power cleans with a load of 70% 1RM, while the CLU set protocol involved the same training protocol as the TRAD, with the addition of 30 s inter-repetition rest intervals contained within the sets. Two-minutes of rest was allotted between each set during both protocols. Barbell trajectories were tracked using a three-dimensional motion capture system. Vertical and horizontal displacement data for the center of the barbell were then extracted for analysis. Statistical analyses included 2 (Protocol; TRAD or CLU) x 3 (Repetition; 1^st-3^rd, 4^th-6^th, or 7^th-9th) SPM repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), with vertical and horizontal displacements analysed separately. The alpha level was set at 0.05. Post-hoc analysis using SPM paired comparisons with Bonferroni correction was used to identify differences between and within protocols.

Results: There was a significant protocol x repetition interaction for vertical displacement (p < 0.001). Based on post-hoc analyses the vertical displacements in the TRAD group were lower at repetition 1^st-3^rd than those at repetition 7^th-9^th during the first pull (Time [%]: 3-23%, Figure 1). Additionally, vertical displacements were greater in repetition 1^st-3^rd than those at repetition 7^th-9^th in the catch (Time [%]: 92-100%, Figure 1). There were no significant differences in vertical displacements between repetitions during the CLU (Figure 1). There were no significant protocol x repetition interactions for horizontal displacement.

Conclusions: Changes in barbell trajectories were observed towards the end of TRAD sets, whereas CLU sets modulated exercise-induced fatigue, resulting in no change in barbell trajectories during high-volume power clean training. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: When coaches wish to use high-volume training performed with power clean, it is recommended to use CLU sets for modulating fatigue-induced changes in barbell trajectories.


Acknowledgements: None