FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT AREA   

Medicina dello Sport 2009 December;62(4):415-24

Copyright © 2010 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Physiological adaptations to 8-week precompetitive training period in elite female judokase

Stojanovic B., Ostojic S., Patrik D., Milosevic Z.

¹ Faculty of Sport and Tourism, Novi Sad, Serbia 2 Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Novi Sad, Serbia

AIM: The main aim was to study physiological adaptations to a 8 week precompetitive training period performed by elite female judo athletes.
METHODS: Eleven female judokas (19.9±3.9 years, 60.5±8.8 kg, 164±7.8 cm) participated in the study. Maximal strength (seated row, bench-press, squat), anaerobic fitness and maximal aerobic power were measured before and after training period. The training period consisted of 8-week of sport-specific exercise. It was devided in two 4-week periods, with 3:1 periodization model (3 weeks of gradual load increase, followed by one week of reduced load), aimed to improve general physical fitness and sport specific condition, respectively.
RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in strength and anaerobic fitness parameters (P<0.05), with the degree of change between 8.8% and 28.1% for seated row and mean anaerobic power, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that precompetitive training period can affect anaerobic energy system. In addition, greater emphasis on aerobic conditioning may be required.