Metabolic and Neuromuscular Specificity

Martin A. Fees, MS, PT, ATC, Co~umn Editor

T he importance of metabolic and neuromuscular specificity is paramount during recondition- ing. Metabolic specificity involves training that results in physiologi- cal adaptations that improve the athlete's sport performance. Neu- romuscular specificity involves re- creating biomechanical patterns of the sport under controlled pro- gressive conditions. Here is a quick review of the various energy sys- tems:

ATP-CP: events lasting 0-10

minutes, then the majority, 25 min, should be spent on ATP-CP/ anaerobic while the minority, 5 min, should be spent on anaero- bic/oxidative activity.

When designing this part of the program, remember that the exercise and energy system selec- tion are a function of exercise in- tensity. In other words, a station- ary bike can be used to train the ATP-CP/anaerobic system by com- pleting 30-sec intervals at a high resistance, or train the oxidative

system by working at light resis- tance for 20 min. This informa- tion, combined with neuromuscu- lar specificity, will bring forth the most productive program.

As noted, neuromuscular specificity involves recreating bio- mechanical patterns of the sport under controlled progressive con- ditions. In the example with the volleyball player, the lower extrem- ity aspect of the sport consists of vertical jumping, lateral agility, lunging, squatting, and short

seconds ATP-CP + anaerobic glycolysis: events lasting 10-30 sec Anaerobic glycolysis + oxida- tive system: events lasting 2 to ATP-CP/Anaex Anam/Oxidative Oxidative 3 min Activity (1 0-30 sec) (2-3 min) (>3 min) Oxidative system: events >3 rnin

The percentage contributions of the body's energy systems in various sports are listed in Table 1. The information provides guidelines for metabolic specific- ity in reconditioning. An example would be a volleyball player recon- ditioning after a bout with patel- lar tendonitis. The general condi- tioning component would consist of 85% ATP-CP/anaerobic and 15% anaerobic/oxidative systems. If the total exercise and condition- ing aspect of rehabilitation is 30

Baseball Basketball Field Hockey Football Lacrosse

goalie, attack defense midfield & man down

Soccer goalie, wings, strikers halfbacks, link-men

Tennis Volleyball Wrestling

Contemporary Conditioning sponsored by r fiMMER TRENGTH'

O 1996 Human Kinetics

44 Athletic Therapy Today July 1996

sprints. Therefore the volleyball conditioning and exercise pro- gram would be designed as follows:

Plyometrics-box jumps, 3 sets of 10 reps (5 min); double leg hops, 3 sets of 8 reps (5 min) ; side to side hops, 3 sets of 8 reps ( 5 min) .

Weight training-lunges with dumbbells, 4 sets of 6 reps (5 rnin).

Conditioning--wall sits, 4 sets of 45 sec (5 min); shuttle run, 2 sets of 300-yd runs (5 min) .

Some exercises lend them- selves to higher intensity, others to lower intensity. The following list splits general exercises into higher and lower intensity activi- ties. But this is not to say the exercises are mutually exclusive.

ATP-CP/Anaerobic - Plyometrics (upper ext./

lower ext.) - Low rep/high intensity

weight training - Sprints - Resisted sprinting - Assisted sprinting

Anaerobic/Oxidative - Circuit weight training - Upper body ergometer - High rep/low intensity weight

training - Phipps jumps (repetitive vert.

jumps on soft foam mat)

Oxidative - StairMaster - Stationary bike - Treadmill - Rowing ergometer -Water running

In conclusion, the athletic therapist should consider sport- specific energy system contribu- tion and exercise selection in or- der to present the most effective rehabilitation program.

Your step-by-step guide to the 1 7

Sports Taphg Basics

(41-minute videotape)

(25-minute videotape)

Human Kinetics

1996 *1/2" VHS Item MMN0606

ISBN 0-88011-606-4 $59.00 ($88.50 Canadian)

The Sports Taping Basics videos are like having a master taping technician conduct a workshop just for you. They show you step-by-step the correct way to use tape to help prevent injuries and facilitate an injured athlete's return to competition.

Athletic trainers David Perrin and Melinda Flegel demonstrate 17 specific techniques. They first show the entire, uninterrupted process of taping the body part. Next they retape, highlighting important aspects and addressing such special considerations as using spicas to prevent slippage, tearing tape effectively, and removing tape smoothly and safely.

Sports Taping Basics is a two-video set. The Lower Body video demonstrates 11 recommended taping procedures for common injuries to the lower extremities, including sites on the ankle, toe, foot arch, knee, hip, and hamstring. Upper Body covers 6 procedures for the shoulder, elbow, wrist, thumb, and finger.

Sports Taping Basics is perfect for teaching student athletic trainers and coaches proper taping techniques. The set's a great resource for coaches to train athletes who tape themselves or their fellow athletes. It's also an excellent supplement to David Perrin's book Athletic Taping and Bracing (Item BPER0502-$25.00 U.S., $37.50 Cdn), which provides many additional techniques, more than 400 medical illustrations and

July 1996 Athletic Therapy Today 45