2 phrases I’ve seen mentioned quite a bit lately. Is reactive strength to do with the golgi tendon organ? What are great exercises to develope reactive strength?
How is tendon stiffness developed and how does it help your sprinting?
In the grand scheme of strength, are the above two things as important as;
Brute/max strength
Starting strength.
explosive strength.
elastic strength.
organism strength.
Answer to any one or more questions apreciated.
It’s a confusing/contradictory topic. Effectively heavy loading with significant(?!) time under tension increases stiffness whilst loading with short periods under tension (plyos) increases compliance. Both training modes decrease Golgi tendon inhibition but only the latter causes adaptations leading to decreased hysteresis (read increased power and efficiency). It appears that a high percentage of power produced when running is provided by elastic recoil of tendon. Providing the muscles are sufficiently strong to hold isometrically whilst the tendon lengthens increased stiffness is optimal for performance. Reactive strength may therefore be partially linked to tendon stiffness.
I’m just researching this for an essay - I may post it when finished.
Please do David - and maybe an example of how to include in a training plan if you have time.
I assume that with this approach the weigth lifting GPP phase of higher reps is ignored?
I was just going to post and ask him to elaborate on the comment he alluded to recently …
Whenever you get time DW …
David W has alluded to the important role that optimal tendon stiffness plays in power production. I’d be interested to hear more from him on the subject.
… of course if the ground contact forces are insufficient to stretch the tendon it’s too stiff. That’s why we talk of optimising stiffness. Currently we are doing a number of studies measuring stiffness: the gradient of the linear trendline of Force Vs Displacement.
Dispalcement, x=at^2
where a=F/m
and t = 2x ‘time from zero to peak force’
Continuous monitoring of stiffness will allow us to determine ‘optimum’ for a given subject/activity and also to measure how it is influenced by variants e.g. stretching…
THe volume of plyos are also important. Distance running for example increases tendon stiffness. >>> i.e. If ground contacts are too great the opposite effect than that desired may occur.
(some of?) the UK middle distance guys of the eighties were very keen on supplementing their training with weights (and plyos?). Could this sort of benefit be a major contributor to their successes?
Could the lack of weights/plyos in (many? most? nearly all of?) the programs of today’s UK middle distancers be a major limitation to their chances of international success?