Ce mois-ci, j'ai choisi de mettre en avant une étude conduite par une équipe norvégienne de l'Université de Lillehammer, sur les effets d'un entraînement de force à charge lourde complémentaire, chez des cyclistes, au niveau morphologique (surface de section de la cuisse) et fonctionnel (force isométrique maximale en 1/2 squat, puissance pic au test de Wingate, PMA, coût énergétique, puissance développée pour une lactatémie de 2 mmol/L, puissance moyenne développée sur 40 min).
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009
Effect of heavy strength training on thigh muscle cross-sectional area, performance determinants, and performance in well-trained cyclists.
Rønnestad BR, Hansen EA, Raastad T
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of heavy strength training on thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), determinants of cycling performance, and cycling performance in well-trained cyclists.
Twenty well-trained cyclists were assigned to either usual endurance training combined with heavy strength training [E+S; n=11 (male=11)] or to usual endurance training only [E; n=9 (male=7, female=2)]. The strength training performed by E+S consisted of four lower body exercises [3x4-10 repetition maximum (RM)], which were performed twice a week for 12 weeks. Thigh muscle CSA, maximal force in isometric half squat, power output in 30s Wingate test, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max)), power output at 2 mmol/L, blood lactate concentration ([la(-)]), and performance, as mean power production, in a 40-min all-out trial were measured before and after the intervention.
E+S increased thigh muscle CSA, maximal isometric force, and peak power in the Wingate test more than E. Power output at 2 mmol/L [la(-)] and mean power output in the 40-min all-out trial were improved in E+S (P<0.05). For E, only performance in the 40-min all-out trial tended to improve (P=0.057). The two groups showed similar increases in VO2max (P<0.05).
In conclusion, adding strength training to usual endurance training improved determinants of cycling performance as well as performance in well-trained cyclists. Of particular note is that the added strength training increased thigh muscle CSA without causing an increase in body mass.
