The influence of ratio and allometric scaling procedures for normalizing upper body power output in division I collegiate football players
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
International Journal of Exercise Science
Volume
24
Issue
9
Publisher
Berkeley Electronic Press
Publication Date
9-1-2010
First Page
2269
Last Page
2273
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to examine the differences in upper body power output among lineman and nonlineman division I collegiate football players and to examine the influence of 2 normalization procedures: (a) simple ratio scaling and (b) standardized allometric scaling. Ten lineman (mean +/- SD: age = 19.3 +/- 1.6 years; height = 187.7 +/- 4.7 cm; mass = 127.7 +/- 13.3 kg) and 14 nonlineman (19.6 +/- 1.4 years; 181.8 +/- 5.2 cm; 92.3 +/- 10.6 kg) performed a multiple repetition bench press power test at 50% of their 1 repetition maximum. Peak power (PP) was determined from a Tendo weightlifting analyzer that was attached to the barbell. The PP values were then analyzed under 3 conditions that included: (a) no scaling (absolute values), (b) ratio scaling (PP body mass), and (c) allometric scaling (PP body mass). The results indicated that the larger lineman demonstrated greater absolute PP values (p = 0.02); however, ratio scaling favored the smaller nonlineman group (p = 0.04). There were no differences in PP values between positions after the standardized allometric scaling procedure (p = 0.60). These findings indicated that the standardized allometric scaling procedure may be a more effective method for normalizing PP values among elite division I collegiate football players.
Recommended Citation
Thompson, B.J., Smith, D.B., Jacobson, B.H., Fiddler, R.E., Warren, A.J., Long, B.C., O’Brien, M.S., Everett, K.L., Glass, R.G., and Ryan, E.D. (2010). The influence of ratio and allometric scaling procedures for normalizing upper body power output in division I collegiate football players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24: 2269-2273.