Muscle Force Dynamics Across Increasing Squat Intensity Conditions in Elite Powerlifters

Alexander Pürzel, a PhD student under the supervision of Dr Hans Kainz, has published his latest research paper in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.

The study investigated how increasing squat intensities affect muscle force dynamics in elite powerlifters. The study found that forces in the m. gluteus maximus increased significantly with higher loads, while the mm. vastii consistently produced the highest absolute muscle forces. Interestingly, during the most challenging phase of the squat (the ‘sticking region’), forces in the hamstrings, calf muscles and m. quadriceps increased only minimally. Contrary to previous assumptions, no correlation was found between the performance level of the athletes and the ratio of single-joint to multi-joint hip extensor muscle forces. 

The results highlight the importance of emphasising a hip-dominant squatting technique and complementing this with training to strengthen the knee extensors in order to optimise squatting performance at high loads.

Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sms.70058