"Seasonal Changes in Neuromuscular Performance Across a Training Year in Women Collegiate Lacrosse Athletes" [Article Review]
- Whistle Performance
- Jan 5
- 2 min read
This study examines the seasonal fluctuations in physical performance and body composition among Division I women’s lacrosse players over a full training year. Researchers utilized countermovement jumps and isokinetic strength testing to identify how different phases of the season, such as the competitive period and the summer off-season, impacted neuromuscular fatigue and power. The results indicated that independent off-season training often led to decreased performance and increased body fat, suggesting a potential detraining effect. Conversely, preseason training intensities caused a temporary dip in strength that may indicate athlete overreaching. These findings highlight the necessity for consistent load management and expert supervision to maintain athletic adaptations throughout the year. Ultimately, the source advocates for using advanced jump metrics to better detect subtle changes in an athlete's recovery and readiness.
Key findings from the research include:
• Neuromuscular Fatigue and Strategy Shifts: The researchers observed a 17% decrease in the Reactive Strength Index modified (RSImod) from the end of the preseason to the end of the summer off-season. Interestingly, while typical output measures like jump height remained stable, "alternative" metrics showed that athletes used deeper jump depths and slower braking times to compensate for fatigue and a less efficient stretch-shortening cycle.
• Strength Fluctuations: Athletes experienced a decline in isokinetic strength during the preseason, which the authors suggest may be indicative of overreaching due to high training volumes. However, strength significantly improved during the competitive season—with some measures increasing by up to 62%—likely due to the efficacy of the in-season program and sport-specific adaptations.
• Body Composition and Detraining: Body fat percentage was highest at the end of the summer off-season. This shift, combined with performance decrements, suggests detraining occurred during the summer months when athletes trained independently without direct supervision.
• Practical Recommendations: The study highlights the importance of using sensitive "alternative" jump metrics to detect fatigue that standard measures might miss. It also emphasizes that collegiate athletes should remain under the direct supervision of strength and conditioning specialists during all training cycles to maintain adaptations and optimize return-to-play readiness.
To put these findings into perspective, imagine an athlete's performance as a high-performance car. While the car's top speed (jump height) might appear unchanged on the surface, a look "under the hood" at the engine's timing (alternative jump metrics) reveals that it is taking much longer to accelerate and working harder to reach that speed due to underlying wear and tear.
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