Effects of a 12-Week Strength Training Program on Experimented Fencersʼ Movement Time

ABSTRACTRedondo, JC, Alonso, CJ, Sedano, S, and de Benito, AM. Effects of a 12-week strength training program on experimented fencersʼ movement time. J Strength Cond Res 28(12)3375–3384, 2014—The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 12-week strength training program on movement time (MT) on fencers of national level. Twelve male fencers were randomly divided into 2 groupsthe control group (CGN = 6; age, 22.3 ± 8.1 years) and the treatment group (TGN = 6; age, 24.8 ± 7.2 years). The CG fencers followed the standard physical conditioning program, which was partially modified for the TG. The TG participated in a 12-week strength training program divided into 2 partsmaximal strength training, including weightlifting exercises (2 days a week for 6 weeks) and explosive strength training, with combined weights and plyometric exercises (2 days a week for 6 weeks). Body mass, body fat, muscle mass, jumping ability, maximal strength, reaction time, and MT were measured on 4 separate occasions. The TG demonstrated significant increases (p ≤ 0.05) in maximal strength and jumping ability after 6 weeks of training and in MT after 12 weeks. These improvements remained unaltered during the 4-week detraining period. It may be concluded that a 12-week strength training program can improve maximal and explosive strength, and these increases can be transferred to MT performance. However, fencers need time to transfer the gains.