Purpose
This study compared the effects of high-intensity flywheel training vs traditional resistance training on anaerobic capacity, speed, change of direction, strength, and jump performance among female university basketball players.
Methods
16 Chinese female university basketball players were randomly divided into a flywheel group (n = 8) and traditional training group (n = 8). The players performed 3 movements: squats, hard pull, and single-leg squat in a high-intensity, circuit-style fashion for 2x per/wk for 8 wks. The following pre- and post- assessments were analyzed
- Anaerobic capacity via Wingate: blood lactate concentrations, peak anaerobic power, mean anaerobic power, fatigue index
- Speed and change of direction: 30-m sprint, T-test, 17×15-m shuttle run
- Strength: 1RM back Squat, Isokinetic muscle strength
- Jump Performance: CMJ Height, CMJ Peak power output
Results
- Both groups showed significant improvements in anaerobic capacity, speed, change of direction, strength, and jump performance
- Compared to the traditional training group, the flywheel group had significantly greater outcomes in blood lactate levels (3 minutes post), anaerobic power, fatigue index, 30-m sprint, T-test, change-of-direction, 17×15-m shuttle run, 1RM back squat, CMJ height, CMJ peak power output, and isokinetic muscle strength test.
Key Takeaways
When comparing high-intensity training using either flywheel or traditional resistance training, the flywheel group had greater improvements in anaerobic capacity, speed, change of direction, strength, and jump performance.
- The improvements in speed, change of direction, and jump assessments can likely be attributed to flywheel’s ability to enhance an athlete’s capacity to utilize elastic energy during the stretch-shortening cycle.
- The additional eccentric demands that flywheel offers likely drove physiological changes to the muscular tendon unit and improved strength and systematically improved power, speed, and anaerobic capacity.
- More specifically in reference to anaerobic capacity, the additional eccentric demands likely improved the strength of the muscular tendon unit and enhanced motor unit synchronization. The improved anaerobic capacity and lower blood lactate levels may also suggest that flywheel training can improve an athlete’s buffering and glycolytic capacity.
