What if "stronger" didn't necessarily mean "faster"? “A recent study led by Australian researcher Shayne Vial, "How Strong is Strong Enough?", challenges current assumptions about the relationship between strength and sprint performance in soccer players. The researchers used a Random Forest Regression (RFR) model to analyze the combined influence of several physical tests on speed. The goal was to identify saturation points, those moments when improving one skill no longer improves performance. The striking result: developing strength greater than twice one's body mass in the Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull (IMTP) would not allow one to run faster. Beyond this threshold, strength gains would no longer have a significant impact on sprint speed. For Paul Rigaudeau, a fitness trainer who worked for Olympique Lyonnais, "this innovative approach is in line with the logic of the minimum effective dose: aiming for optimal performance without overloading athletes. A useful reminder for fitness trainers: the challenge is no longer to always do more, but be targeted with their methods."
“What if ‘stronger’ didn’t necessarily mean ‘faster’? A study shows that developing a force greater than twice your body weight in the Isometric Mid Thigh Pull (IMTP) does not necessarily make you run faster” / ©Icon Sport