Effects Of Six-Week TRX Training On Physical Skills In Female Skier Students

Abstract

In this paper we proposed to examine the effect of six-week TRX Suspension Training on some physical skills like strength, endurance and coordination in upper and lower limbs, endurance of the back/core, stability and balance. The effect of the TRX Suspension Training on physical skills was evaluated using five pre and posttests. The subjects that were analyzed participated in three weekly 45-50 minutes training sessions in a 6 week period. Descriptive statistic and t-Test at (α=0.05) were used to analyze the data obtained from the five subject of the research. The results showed that there was a significant difference in four out of five tests that were used. According to the results, the TRX Suspension Training program produced significant benefits to the subjects that were analyzed by increasing the levels of physical and functional fitness. Suspension training is an effective workout system that demands generating and controlling strength in a dynamic and changing environment.

Keywords: Alpine skiingpre-seasonTRX Suspension Training

Introduction

Before you get too deep into a TRX training regimen you may want a little background on exactly

how and why Suspension Training and body weight exercise is such an effective way to build total body

athleticism. Strength training utilizing suspended bodyweight began more than 150 years ago.

Generations of acrobats and gymnasts have used their own bodyweight and gravity as resistance--

suspended from rings, ropes, and trapeze bars-to generate tremendous, strength and the astonishing

physiques that are a hallmark of these athletes.

(https://www.trxtraining.com/train/functional-suspension-training-and-trx)

Suspension training exercises may help adjacent muscle groups to work together in a synergistic

fashion, or as a single unit. This is one of the primary focal points of any type of functional training. A

secondary, albeit apparent feature to suspension training, is the added core stability, balance, and

coordination demands seen in almost every exercise.

(https://www.ncsf.org/enew/articles/articles-supsensiontrainingoverview.aspx)

A recent study (Mate-Munoz et. al, 2014) shows that TRX training provides the same benefits as

conventional weight training. The study shows that TRX Suspension Training helps build strength,

increase movement capacity and develop power.

Another article (McGill et. al, 2014) sought to find out the effects of using TRX suspension

training straps. The researchers compared pressing exercises done with the TRX to more traditional

versions of the exercises.The study showed that instability associated with the labile exercises required

greater torso muscle activity than when performed on stable surfaces.

The fitness profiles of alpine skiers differs significantly to their cross country counterparts. A great

reliance is placed on anaerobic metabolism - power, power endurance and muscular strength (Andersen,

Montgomery, 1988). Even though moderate to high values for aerobic power are recorded in elite

downhill skiers (Neumayr et. al, 2003), this may be due to their training rather than a direct result of

competing (Andersen RE, Montgomery, 1988; Saibene et al., 1985). Alpine skiers must be able to react

quickly to changes in terrain and the course outline requiring agility, balance and co-ordination (Bompa,

1999).

Downhill skiing forces the athlete into a crouched position placing significant strain on the knees.

Not surprisingly, elite skiers have strong legs when measured during isometric and isokinetic leg

extensions (Neumayr et. al, 2003). Leg strength is also a predictor in downhill and giant slalom events

(Andersen, Montgomery, 1988).

Methodology

Results

In table 1 we present the findings of the research. The data indicate by comparison that the TRX

Suspension Training program determined significant increase in strength, endurance and coordination in

upper and lower limbs, endurance of the back/core, stability and balance.

Discussions and Conclusion

The main finding of the research is that the exercises from the TRX Suspension Training program

improved physical abilities namely strength, endurance in the upper and lower limbs, coordination,

anaerobic and aerobic effort, endurance of the back/core by stabilizing muscles, balance and stability.

Statistical analysis of the data obtained in the current study showed that the 6 week TRX

Suspension Training made 3 times/week caused significant increase of all the parameters that were

targeted.

Regarding the aerobic and anaerobic effort we can state that the values registered by the five

subjects understudy in the post-test are better than the ones obtained in the initial testing, the mean

increased from 7,6 to 10,74 and the t=6,885 which means that there are significant differences between

the to testing periods.

The results obtained at the Balance board test show that the female skier students increased their

skills, the mean grew from 82 to 100 counts.

At the Penta Jump – right and left leg we can see that the mean increased from the value of 7,84 to

9,88 regarding the right leg and from 7,62 to 9,44 for the left leg, which means that the subjects improved

their strength in the lower limbs.

The data obtained at Plank test, which shows the endurance of the back/core stabilizing muscles,

prove that the students obtained better values, the mean registered in the initial testing was 2,2 compared

with the value of 4,4 registered at the final testing. The paired T-test for the pre and post-test show a

significant difference between the obtained values α˂0.05, which means that the subjects improved their

core muscle strength.

Research findings from the Relative Bench Press Test indicate that there is no significant

difference in the final testing, although the mean increased from 2,8 to 4.

In conclusion, the TRX Suspension Training program that was used in the research produced

significant benefits on the physical skills. According to the results obtained in this study we can state that

TRX exercises used for a 6 week period can positively influence the physical abilities of female skier

students.

Every movement you produce while using TRX is demanding for your body in terms of stability

and direct forces that later translate into better performance in sports and life in general.

References

1. Bompa, TO. (1999). Periodization training for sports. Champaign: IL, Human Kinetics.
2. Andersen, RE, Montgomery, DL. (1988). Physiology of Alpine skiing. Journal ofSports Medicine, Oct;6(4):210-21.
3. Mate-Munoz, JL, Monroy, AJ, Jimenez, PJ, Garnacho-Castano MV, (2014). Effects of Instability Versus Traditional Resistance Training on Strength, Power and Velocity in Untrained Men. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, Sept; 13:460-468.
4. McGill, SM, Cannon, J, Andersen, JT, (2014). Analysis of Pushing Exercises: Muscle Activity and Spine Load While Contrasting Techniques on Stable Surfaces With a Labile Suspension Strap Training System. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, Jan; 28(1):105-116.
5. Neumayr, G, Hoertnagl, H, Pfister, R, Koller, A, Eibl, G, Raas, E. (2003). Physical and physiological factors associated with success in professional alpine skiing. International Journal of Sports Medicine, Nov;24(8):571-5.
6. Saibene, F., Cortili, G., Gavazzi, P., Magistri, P. (1985). Energy sources in alpine skiing (giant slalom). European Journal of Applied Physiol. Occup. Physio., 53(4):312-6.
7. https://www.trxtraining.com/train/functional-suspension-training-and-trx Visited in 2015
8. https://www.ncsf.org/enew/articles/articles-supsensiontrainingoverview.aspx Visited in 2015