The Science of Flywheel Training: Exercise Physiology and Practical Applications

Flywheel training was initially studied and implemented to mitigate the negative effects in the absence of gravity on astronauts during space travels. Later on, sport scientists and practitioners understood the advantages offered by this methodology and they started to use flywheel training for several purposes, such as performance development of athletes, injury prevention and clinical rehabilitation. Flywheel training offers some specific and unique advantages compared to traditional resistance training, which has increased the popularity of this training methodology. In detail, flywheel training is characterized by the combination of both concentric and eccentric contractions, which offers neural patterns and mechanical responses that have important implications for chronic adaptations. This statement is supported by recent research which reports that flywheel training is a valid method leading to positive morphological changes of muscle structure and architecture, and mechanical adaptations like hypertrophy effects and strength gains. In the last decade, several researchers have studied the physiological peculiarities of flywheel training, the acute and chronic adaptations, as well as the consequent benefits in performance, however, much research is still needed on this specific argument.

We have the pleasure to open the call for papers for this Research Topic "The Science of Flywheel Training: Exercise Physiology and Practical Applications". The aim of this Research Topic is to publish a series of studies using flywheel technology related to exercise physiology, aiming to better understand the motivations of some adaptive responses (e.g. functions and mechanisms), as well as studies that elucidate how to better implement such technology into strength training protocols. Future investigations that clarify the state of the art technology can be decisive for the implementation of flywheel devices into training protocols, which is currently limited compared to traditional resistance training. Although this technology has gained a lot of popularity in the last decade, several underpinning mechanisms remain unexplored. Therefore, more research is needed to add information and knowledge about its physiological mechanisms as well as its utilization in ecological contexts, which could support the spread of this training modality in applied settings.

The editors of this Research Topic are particularly interested in research evaluating underpinning physiological responses and mechanisms, as well as training protocols with athletes (amateur and professional) that verify the implementation of such a technology in applied environments. In detail, we encourage the submission of research investigating flywheel exercise physiology, studies investigating the acute and chronic effect of flywheel protocols in sports, as well as on injury prevention and clinical rehabilitation. We encourage the submission of studies reporting negative results and replication studies. Lastly, narrative and systematic reviews on associated topics are especially welcomed.

Dr. Marco Beato declares to have received financial support for his research from a private company producing flywheel devices in 2020. The other authors do not have any competing interest to declare.