Concentric and/or eccentric training-induced alterations in shoulder flexor and extensor strength

To examine the effects of specific concentric and eccentric training on muscular strength following an initial standardized period oi excessive training, shoulder extensors and flexors were tested. The shoulder is a joint particularly susceptible to injury and requires a specific strength training program. For a period of 12 weeks, subjects performed training including concentric and eccentric actions. Thereafter they were divided into three groups that performed specific 12-week programs, including either concentric (C-E/C), eccentric (C-E/E), or a combination of both concentric and eccentric exercises (C-E/C-E). Following the initial period of training, significant increases (p <0.05) in performance were observed for all experimental groups. The C-E/C group showed significant increases (p <0.05) in performance after 24 weeks of training, especially at high concentric angular velocities. However, the C-E/E group showed significant increases (p <0.05) only in their eccentric moments. No significant differences were noted for the C-E/C-E group. These findings seem to partly confirm the mode-specificity principle, as only the concentric-specific training program improved concentric and eccentric strength. Moreover, the velocity-specificity principle was strongly supported.