Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Physiol.
Sec. Exercise Physiology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1487624
This article is part of the Research Topic Training Load in Sport: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives View all 19 articles

Is inertial training more effective than traditional resistance training in young healthy males?

Provisionally accepted
Alicja Naczk Alicja Naczk 1*Katarzyna Kisiel-Sajewicz Katarzyna Kisiel-Sajewicz 2Ewa Gajewska Ewa Gajewska 3Piotr Gramza Piotr Gramza 4Tomasz Jędrzejczak Tomasz Jędrzejczak 1Mariusz Naczk Mariusz Naczk 5
  • 1 Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland
  • 2 Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
  • 3 Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Greater Poland, Poland
  • 4 Association of Lubusz Innovation Network, Poland, Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland
  • 5 University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Lubusz, Poland

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Abstract Objectives: Inertial training, also called flywheel training is more and more popular among sportsmen. The available data concerning the effectiveness of inertial training compared to conventional resistance strength training are contradictory. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of inertial training (IT) vs. traditional gravity-dependent resistance training (TRT) on elbow flexor and knee extensor strength. Methods: Twenty-six young, recreationally active males were randomized into IT group (n=13) or TRT group (n=13). Both groups performed strength training three times a week for 6 weeks. Before and after training, the maximum force of the trained muscles was evaluated under training conditions (one repetition maximum under gravity-dependent conditions and maximal force under inertial conditions) and isometric conditions. Countermovement jump, squat jump, pull-up test, and limb circumference were also evaluated. Results: Elbow flexor muscle strength and arm circumference increased significantly in both IT and TRT over the course of training. There were no significant differences in relative muscle strength increases between groups. Knee extensor muscle strength also improved significantly in IT, regardless of the tested conditions, while TRT showed significant changes in one repetition maximum and isometric force but no significant changes in force obtained under inertial conditions. Thigh circumference increased in IT (P ≤ 0.05) but was unchanged in TRT. Jumping abilities improved significantly in both groups, without any differences between groups. Conclusions: We cannot confirm the superiority of inertial training over traditional resistance training definitively. Nevertheless, inertial training had a slight advantage over traditional resistance training when knee extensor muscle training was considered.

    Keywords: Inertial, Resistance, trainings comparison, Muscle Strength, elbow flexors, Knee extensors

    Received: 28 Aug 2024; Accepted: 11 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Naczk, Kisiel-Sajewicz, Gajewska, Gramza, Jędrzejczak and Naczk. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Alicja Naczk, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.