Sport-Specific Differences in Power-Velocity-Force Profiling during Trunk Rotations at Different Loads

Featured Application While force-velocity-power characteristics of resistance exercises, such as squats and bench presses, have been well documented, little attention has been paid to load, force and power-velocity relationships in trunk rotation exercises. This study revealed that the highest power is produced by fighting sports athletes, followed by those of water, combat and ball sports, with the maximum achieved at 10.5, 20.0, 15.5 and 10.5 kg, respectively. Additionally, angular velocity is the highest at lower weights in fighting sports athletes and at higher weights in water sports athletes. Alternatively, the highest force is achieved at higher velocities in fighting sports athletes and at lower velocities in water sports athletes. These findings indicate that power, velocity and force produced during trunk rotations are sensitive parameters able to discriminate between athletes with different demands on explosive strength and power of core muscles. This study investigates differences in power and velocity at different loads and power and force at different velocities during trunk rotations in athletes who practice sports with rotational demands on the trunk. Athletes of combat (n = 23), fighting (n = 39), ball (n = 52) and water sports (n = 19) with a mean age of 23.8 +/- 1.5 years performed standing trunk rotations on each side with bars of different weights (from 1 kg up to 50 kg) placed on their shoulders. The findings showed significant between-group differences in mean power in the acceleration phase of trunk rotations, especially at higher weights (>= 10.5 kg) or lower velocities (<= 334.2 rad/s). The power at 10.5 kg was significantly higher in fighting than water (p = 0.035; d = 0.86), combat (p = 0.001; d = 1.53) and ball sports athletes (p = 0.001; d = 1.48), with no significant differences between the two latter groups; at 15.5 kg, it was higher in water than combat (p = 0.027; d = 0.91) and ball sports athletes (p = 0.009; d = 1.17) but not those in fighting sports; and at 20 kg, it was higher in water than combat (p = 0.013; d = 0.98) and ball sports athletes (p = 0.006; d = 1.33), with no significant differences with those in fighting sports. This testing is sensitive in discriminating between athletes of various sports, which may reflect the specificity of their training, including trunk rotations at various velocities under different load conditions.