lecture 53

• 3 types of power

  1. Aerobic
  2. Anaerobic
  3. Instantaneous
• Aerobic Power - the maximum steady-state rate that an endurance athlete can convert oxygen to mechanical work. It is usually measured by VO2 max, distance covered in a 12 minute run, etc.
• Anaerobic Power - the maximum rate that a sprint athlete can convert CP/ATP stores to mechanical work. It is usually measured by a 30 second Wingate test, 400 meter sprint time, etc.
• Instantaneous Power - the maximum product of force and velocity that a ballistic athlete can perform. It is usually measured by vertical jump height or other "explosive movement tasks".
• vertical jump performance and all ballistic or explosive movements are dependent on the final velocity and, therefore, the impulse of the movement 
• the only predictor that had a strong relationship with jump height was peak instantaneous power
• higher maximum acceleration early in the movement has a shorter movement time = desired by boxer
• maximum acceleration reached late in the movement but has a higher final velocity is desired by a shot putter
• impulse or ballistic movements that require high final velocities and are limited by the range of motion require large instantaneous power generation
•  It may be easier to increase strength at zero or low velocity than it is at high velocity and it may be easier to increase aerobic and even anaerobic power than instantaneous power
• The training methods that achieve these gains may not have been clearly identified but it seems that plyometrics, specificity, and paying attention to stimuli that address neural strength gains as well as physiological changes are implicated