EFFECTS OF A PERSONALISED WEIGHT TRAINING PROGRAMME ON SHOULDER JOINT ISOKINETIC AVERAGE POWER IN VIETNAMESE PARA THROWERS

Abstract

Para throwing events are divided into various classifications based on the type and severity of the athletes' impairments. Average power helps identify potential imbalances and pinpoint areas for targeted training interventions, optimizing force application and minimizing compensatory strain. Among the key determinants of their success lies average power, a dynamic measure encompassing both force and velocity at the shoulder joint. As such, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a personalized weight training program on shoulder joint average power in para throwers. Two male javelin throwers (aged 31-36 years) were recruited and volunteered to participate in this study. Testing of Isokinetic Average Power of shoulder joint was performed on the Biodex Machine System. The isokinetic shoulder joint testing at 60°/s for average power measurement was utilized. The intervention program created with 8-week, 3 sessions/week, intensity of this program progressively increased from 60% of 1RM to 95% of 1RM with fast execution. Descriptive analysis showed an improvement of average power between pre-post interventions. The calculated Cohen's d of average power of extension shoulder joints in 60°/s with 0.18 between pre-post interventions suggest a small effect size. The results revealed the average power of flexion shoulder joints in 60°/s with 0.14 also categorized as a small effect size. The personalized designed weight training program in this study is suitable to the para throwers which addressed specific muscle groups and movement patters crucial for the throwing action. In conclusion, targeting training exercises to replicate the throwing speeds and angles encountered during competition optimizes power transfer and movement efficiency.