Anthony J Blazevich

• PhD
• Professor at Edith Cowan University

Background: Serial sarcomere number (SSN) critically influences muscle function and is hypothesized to protect against injury. While most evidence for SSN addition comes from non-human animal studies, eccentric exercise is often proposed as a key stimulus due to its association with increased fascicle length in humans. However, the most efficient e...

Studies investigating the mechanisms influencing maximum passive joint range of motion (ROMmax) and stiffness have not objectively assessed the possible influence of stretch speed and/or arousal state. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of arousal state and stretch speed on healthy individuals ROMmax, stiffness, gastrocnemius media...

Resistance training (RT) triggers diverse morphological and physiological adaptations that are broadly considered beneficial for performance enhancement as well as injury risk reduction. Some athletes and coaches therefore engage in, or prescribe, substantial amounts of RT under the assumption that continued increments in maximal strength capacity...

During vertical jump evaluations in which jump height is estimated from flight time (FT), the jumper must maintain the same body posture between vertical takeoff and landing. As maintaining identical posture is rare during takeoff and landing between different jump attempts and in different individuals, we simulated the effect of changes in ankle p...

The manner in which motoneurons respond to excitatory and inhibitory inputs depends strongly on how their intrinsic properties are influenced by the neuromodulators serotonin and noradrenaline. These neuromodulators enhance the activation of voltage‑gated channels that generate persistent (long-lasting) inward sodium and calcium currents (PICs) int...

Fatigue is thought to be a contributing factor to hamstring injury during sprint running. Injuries can happen during acceleration or maximum speed phases between peak hip flexion and foot-strike, when the hamstring muscle-tendon unit (MTU) is at its longest. The angular displacements of the bones onto which the muscles attach influence hamstring MT...

Background: Whilst muscle contractility increases with muscle temperature, there is no consensus on the best warm-up protocol to use before resistance training or sports exercise due to the range of possible warm-up and testing combinations available. Objectives: To determine the effects of different warm-up types (active, exercise-based vs. passiv...

Background Neuromuscular function is considered as a determinant factor of endurance performance during adulthood. However, whether endurance training triggers further neuromuscular adaptations exceeding those of growth and maturation alone over the rapid adolescent growth period is yet to be determined. Objective The present study investigated th...

Purpose Unilateral strength training may attenuate the decline in muscle strength and size in homologous, contralateral muscles. This study aimed to determine whether the cross-education of strength could specifically attenuate the effects of detraining immediately after a short (prehabilitation-type) period of strength training. Methods Twenty-si...

Background Associations between muscle architecture and rate of force development (RFD) have been largely studied during fixed‐end (isometric) contractions. Fixed‐end contractions may, however, limit muscle shape changes and thus alter the relationship between muscle architecture an RFD. Aim We compared the correlation between muscle architecture...

On behalf of the Strength and Conditioning Society (SCS) and the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry and Exercise Physiology (EEVFA), we are pleased to present the abstracts of the SCS 6th Annual Meeting and EEVFA-11th International Congress of Biochemistry and Physiology of Exercise. The event was held at the Hellenic Olympic Committee headquarters i...

Introduction Although neuromuscular function varies significantly between strength and endurance-trained adult athletes, it has yet to be ascertained whether such differences manifest by early adolescence. The aim of the present study was to compare knee extensor neuromuscular characteristics between adolescent athletes who are representative of st...

Introduction Large increases in joint range of motion (ROM) have been reported after eccentric resistance training, however limited data exist describing the associated mechanisms or potential cross-education effects in the contralateral limb. Therefore, the effects of a 6-week isokinetic eccentric plantarflexor training program were examined in 26...

Purpose Persistent inward calcium and sodium currents (PICs) are crucial for initiation and maintenance of motoneuron firing, and thus muscular force. However, there is a lack of data describing the effects of fatiguing exercise on PIC activity in humans. We simultaneously applied tendon vibration and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (VibStim)...

Purpose. The present study quantified between-limb responses to strength training in the stronger (STR) versus weaker (WEA) elbow flexors in participants with symmetric (SYM) or asymmetric (ASY) 1-RM strength. Methods. Neural, hypertrophic and strength adaptations to 4 weeks (3∙wk-1) of unilateral elbow flexion training of both arms were examined i...

Different methods can be used to assess muscle hypertrophy, but the effects of training on regional changes in muscle size can be detected only using direct muscle measurementssuch as muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, or volume. Importantly, muscle size increases vary across regions both within and between muscles following resistance trainin...

Spinal motoneuron firing depends greatly on persistent inward currents (PICs), which in turn are facilitated by the neuromodulators serotonin and noradrenaline. The aim of this study was to determine whether jaw clenching (JC) and mental stress (MS), which may increase neuromodulator release, facilitate PICs in human motoneurons. The paired motor u...

Elastic strain energy that is stored and released from long, distal tendons such as the Achilles during locomotion allows for muscle power amplification as well as for reduction of the locomotor energy cost: as distal tendons perform mechanical work during recoil, plantar flexor muscle fibres can work over smaller length ranges, at slower shortenin...

Nervous system deterioration is a primary driver of age‐related motor impairment. The motor neurones, which act as the interface between the central nervous system and the muscles, play a crucial role in amplifying excitatory synaptic input to produce the desired motor neuronal firing output. For this, they utilise their ability to generate persist...

INTRODUCTION: Eccentric cycling training has been reported to increase muscle mass and function at low efforts [1], but the optimal protocols for eccentric cycling training are yet to be established. Previous studies prescribed eccentric cycling based on heart rate, oxygen consumption, or perceived effort [1-3]. However, a protocol based on maximal...

Purpose: The present study compared the effects of contraction intensity (submaximal vs. maximal) and mode (concentric vs. eccentric) on biceps femoris long head (BFlh) fascicle lengthening, rotation, and architectural gear ratio at long and short muscle lengths. Methods: Data were captured from 18 healthy adults (10 men and 8 women) without his...

On behalf of the Strength and Conditioning Society (SCS) and the Nucleus of High Performance in Sport (NAR), we are pleased to present the abstracts of the SCS 5th Annual Conference, which, for the first time, took place outside of Europe. The event was held at NAR’s state-of-the-art facilities in São Paulo, Brazil, on 3–5 November 2022, and compri...

Ferrari, A, Baquet, G, Blazevich, AJ, and Ratel, S. Influence of recovery time after warm-up on vertical jump performance in trained prepubertal and postpubertal male athletes. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2023-The aim of this study was to examine the concurrent effects of maturity status and recovery delay after a standardized dynamic warm-...

Purpose: To determine whether kinetic chain pattern during knee extensor strength training influences quadriceps femoris center of mass and moment of inertia about the hip in a predictable manner as such changes can affect running economy. Methods: Twelve participants completed 8 weeks of both unilateral open (OKC) and closed (CKC) kinetic chain re...

Purpose To understand muscle damage in badminton, changes in neuromuscular function were investigated after simulated badminton singles matches performed by ten state-level male players. Methods Each participant played eight matches and measurements were taken before, immediately after, and 1 and 24 h after each match. Maximal voluntary isometric...

Purpose A cyclist’s rate of force/torque development (RFD/RTD) and peak force/torque can be measured during single-joint or whole-body isometric tests, or during cycling. However, there is limited understanding of the relationship between these measures, and of the mechanisms that contribute to each measure. Therefore, we examined the: (i) relation...

This study investigated the effects of high-intensity resistance training on estimates of the motor neuron persistent inward current (PIC) in older adults. Seventeen participants (68.5±2.8 years) completed a 2-week non-exercise control period followed by 6 weeks of resistance training. Surface electromyographic signals were collected using two 32-c...

During initial acceleration, the first steps of a maximal‐effort (sprint) run often determine success or failure in the capture and evasion of an opponent, and is therefore a vital factor of success in many modern sports. However, accelerative events are commonly performed after having already run considerable distances, and the associated fatigue...

Aging is associated with neurodegeneration and a loss of muscle function, especially in lower-limb muscles. While caffeine may augment muscle force generation through multiple effects on the central nervous system, no studies have yet compared the effects of caffeine on force-generating capacity between younger and older men, who might respond diff...

Skeletal muscle extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical for muscle force production and the regulation of important physiological processes during growth, regeneration, and remodelling. ECM remodelling is a tightly orchestrated process, sensitive to multi-directional tensile and compressive stresses and damaging stimuli, and its assessment can conve...

Introduction: Substantial increases in joint range of motion (ROM) have been reported following eccentric resistance training, however between-study variability and sample size issues complicate the interpretation of the magnitude of effect. Methods: PubMed, Medline and SPORTDiscus databases were searched for studies examining the effects of ecc...

Purpose Ultrasound-derived echo intensity (EI) has been used as a physiological marker for changes in skeletal muscle ‘quality’ with physical training, disuse, ageing, and neuromuscular disorders. However, the methodological and physiological factors influencing EI and its longitudinal change are still unclear. Here, we performed two separate expe...

A well‐coordinated facilitation–inhibition control of motor neuronal persistent inward currents (PICs) via diffuse neuromodulation and local inhibition is essential to ensure motor units discharge at required times and frequencies. Present best estimates indicate that PICs are reduced in older adults; however, it is not yet known whether PIC facili...

Temporal biomechanical and physiological responses to physical activity vary between individual hamstrings components as well as between exercises, suggesting that hamstring muscles operate differently, and over different lengths, between tasks. Nevertheless, the force-length properties of these muscles have not been thoroughly investigated. The pr...

This study utilised feedback from older adults during balance-challenging, elastic band resistance exercises to design a physical activity (PA) intervention. Methods: Twenty-three active participants, aged 51-81 years, volunteered to perform a mini balance evaluation test and falls efficacy scale, and completed a daily living questionnaire. Follo...

Introduction Back squat warm-up activities using elastic band (EB) resistance in combination with free weight resistance (FWR) can improve subsequent countermovement jump (CMJ) performance (1), a phenomenon termed post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). However, these improvements are reported using a traditional EB attachment site that cre...

A well-coordinated control of motor neuronal persistent inward currents (PICs) via diffuse neuromodulation and local inhibition is essential to ensure motor units discharge at required times and frequencies. Current best estimates indicate that PICs are reduced in older adults; however, it is not yet known whether PIC facilitation-inhibition contro...

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the time course of maximal isometric finger flexor force and blood acid-base balance during repeated simulated matches in world-class judokas. Methods: Seven 21- to 28-year-old world-class female judokas (including Olympic and World Championship medalists) repeated four 4-minute judo combats inte...

Introduction: Biceps femoris long head (BFlh) fascicle length (Lf), fascicle angle (FA), and muscle thickness (MT) estimates obtained across two days from extended field-of-view (EFOV) sonographic images were compared to those measured from a Collage of single ultrasound images (to visualize entire fascicles) as well as a range of geometric equatio...

The primary aim of this narrative review was to outline the historical genesis of resistance training strategies that incorporate high-load, low-velocity exercises and low-load, high-velocity exercises in the same training session allowing for different "exercise sequences" to be simultaneously implemented. Discrepancies between scientific works an...

Background and aim: Serotonin and noradrenaline release in the spinal cord are critical to motoneuron firing. Without the influence of these neuromodulators, we would not be able to produce more than 40% of our maximum motor output. An important part of this neuromodulation is the activation of persistent (long-lasting) inward currents (PICs) that...

Background: Persistent inward currents (PICs) in motoneurons greatly influence their responsiveness to synaptic input. As PICs are enhanced by monoamines, we hypothesised that increased noradrenaline release induced by mental stress would increase PICs in humans. Methods: Surface electromyograms (EMG) collected using a 32-electrode matrix on gastr...

Elastic strain energy is stored and released from long, distal tendons such as the Achilles during locomotion, reducing locomotor energy cost by minimising muscle shortening distance and speed, and thus activation. However, numerous additional, often unrecognised, advantages of long tendons may speculatively be of greater evolutionary advantage, in...

Severe-intensity constant work rate (CWR) cycling tests simulate the high-intensity competition environment and are useful for monitoring training progression and adaptation, yet impose significant physiological and psychological strain, require substantial recovery, and may disrupt athlete training or competition preparation. A brief, minimally fa...

Persistent inward currents (PICs) are crucial for initiation, acceleration, and maintenance of motoneuron firing. As PICs are highly sensitive to synaptic inhibition and facilitated by serotonin and noradrenaline, we hypothesised that both reciprocal inhibition (RI) induced by antagonist nerve stimulation and whole‐body relaxation (WBR) would reduc...

The present study examined (i) the magnitude of the rate of torque development (RTD) and (ii) the between-day reliability of RTD at the start of a cycling sprint when sprint resistance, sprint duration, and the pedal downstroke were altered. Nineteen well-trained cyclists completed one familiarisation and three testing sessions. Each session involv...

The rate of initial acceleration during the first steps of a maximal-effort (sprint) run often determines success or failure in prey capture and predator evasion, and is a vital factor of success in many modern sports. However, accelerative events are commonly performed after having already run considerable distances, and the associated fatigue sho...

Effects of eccentric (ECC) versus concentric (CON) strength training of the upper body performed twice a week for 10 weeks followed by detraining for five weeks on maximal force, muscle activation, muscle mass and serum hormone concentrations were investigated in young women (n = 11 and n = 12). One-repetition bench press (1RM), maximal isometric f...

Purpose This study tested the hypothesis that prepubertal boys, but not untrained men, would exhibit a similar post-exercise parasympathetic reactivation as well-trained adult male endurance athletes. Methods Twelve prepubertal boys (12.3 ± 1.6 years), 14 untrained men (21.8 ± 2.2 years) and 16 well-trained adult male endurance athletes (24.5 ± 4....

Nervous system maladaptation is linked to the loss of maximal strength and motor control with aging. Motor unit discharge rates are a critical determinant of force production; thus, lower discharge rates could be a mechanism underpinning maximal strength and motor control losses during aging. This meta-analysis summarized the findings of studies co...

Purpose We investigated the effects of three different unilateral isoinertial resistance training protocols with eccentric-overload on changes in lean mass and muscle function of trained (TL) and contralateral non-trained (NTL) legs. Methods Physically-active university students were randomly assigned to one of three training groups or a control g...

The present study investigated the acute effects of a mixed-modality, long-duration adventure race on pulmonary function in adolescent athletes. Twenty male adolescents aged 14 to 17 years volunteered to participate in a wilderness adventure race of 68.5-km. Expiratory function was evaluated before, immediately after, and 24 h after race completion...

Vibratory (Tvib) and sustained (Tsust) torque responses to concurrent Achilles tendon vibration and neuromuscular electrical stimulation applied over the muscle belly (vib+stim) are used as indicators of motoneuron facilitation and, theoretically, persistent inward current strength. However, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) applied to th...

While muscle stretching has been commonly used to alleviate pain, reports of its effectiveness are conflicting. The objective of this review is to investigate the acute and chronic effects of stretching on pain, including delayed onset muscle soreness. The few studies implementing acute stretching protocols have reported small to large magnitude de...

Age-related deterioration within both motoneuron and monoaminergic systems should theoretically reduce neuromodulation by weakening motoneuronal persistent inward current (PIC) amplitude. However, this assumption remains untested. Surface electromyographic signals were collected using two 32-channel electrode matrices placed on soleus and tibialis...

The ability to shift from walking and jogging to sprinting gaits, even when fatigued after prolonged effort, would have been as useful to our hunter-gatherer ancestors as it is to modern athletes. During prolonged jogging, joint moment and work decrease in the distal (ankle) joint but increase at proximal (hip/knee) joints as fatigue progresses, an...

Severe-intensity constant work rate (CWR) cycling tests are useful for monitoring training progression and adaptation as they impose significant physiological and psychological strain and thus simulate the high-intensity competition environment. However, fatiguing tests require substantial recovery and may disrupt athlete training or competition pr...

Resistance exercises eliciting eccentric overload (EO) are considered to strongly promote muscular hypertrophy and broad neuromuscular adaptations, but typically require specialized equipment. The aims of these experiments were to assess whether EO is achieved during common high‐speed stretch‐shortening cycle (SSC) exercises (rebound bench press th...

Evidence for the effectiveness of acute and chronic stretching for improving range of motion is extensive. Improved flexibility can positively impact performances in activities of daily living and both physical and mental health. However, less is known about the effects of stretching on other aspects of health such as injury incidence and balance....

Purpose: Recently it has been suggested that a cellular pathway composed of integrin, integrin-linked kinase (ILK), rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR (RICTOR), and Akt may facilitate long-term structural and functional adaptations associated with exercise, independent of the mTORC1 pathway. Therefore, we examined changes in integrin-ILK-RICT...

The vertical jump test is one of the simplest and most prevalent physical tests used in practice and research. This study investigated the validity and reliability of a new mobile application (Jumpo) for measuring jump performance on Android devices. University-aged students (n = 10; 20 ± 3 years; 176 ± 6 cm; 68 ± 9 kg) reported to the laboratory o...

Age-related deterioration within both motor neurones and monoaminergic systems should theoretically reduce neuromodulation by weakening motor neuronal persistent inward current (PIC) amplitude. However, this assumption remains untested. Surface electromyographic signals were collected using two 32-channel electrode matrices placed on soleus and tib...

We studied the effect of pennate vs. fusiform muscle architecture on the rate of torque development (RTD) by examining the predominately fusiform elbow flexors (EF) and highly-pennate knee extensors (KE). Seventeen male volunteers (28.4±6.2 years) performed explosive isometric EF and KE contractions (MVCs). Biceps brachii and vastus lateralis fasci...

Purpose: To characterize the acute effects of a long-duration adventure race on knee extensor (KE) fatigue and the knee functional ratio in adolescent athletes. Methods: Twenty trained male adolescents (aged 14-17 y) performed an adventure race of 68.5 km. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) KE and knee flexor torques were measured be...

This study aimed to examine the effect of intense intermittent lower‐body and trunk exercise (rowing) on punching performance in 28 highly‐trained male amateur boxers. Straight‐ and bent‐arm punch performances were assessed with a custom‐built punch integrator using a 3‐min maximal‐effort punch test, completed in both non‐fatigued (ROW pre ) and fa...

Purpose We examined changes in plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity, hydroxyproline and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentrations in relation to changes in maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque and delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) following a session of volume-matched higher- (HI) versus lower-intensity (LI) eccentric cycling exercis...

Prolonged static muscle stretching transiently reduces maximal muscle force, and this force loss has a strong neural component. In this review, we discuss the evidence suggesting that stretching reduces the motoneuron's ability to amplify excitatory drive. We propose a hypothetical model in which stretching causes physiological relaxation, reducing...

The effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for rehabilitation is proportional to the evoked torque. The progressive increase in torque (extra torque) that may develop in response to low intensity wide-pulse high-frequency (WPHF) NMES holds great promise for rehabilitation as it overcomes the main limitation of NMES, namely dis...

Objective: The present study investigated the acute effects of a mixed-modality, long-duration adventure race on pulmonary function in adolescent athletes. Methods: Twenty male adolescents aged 14 to 17 years volunteered to participate in a simulated competitive wilderness adventure race of 68.5-km. Expiratory function was evaluated by spirometry w...

The purposes of this study were to determine the impact of 6 weeks of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) on maximum voluntary plantar flexor strength, muscle activity via surface electromyography (EMG), and muscle architecture measured at rest and during maximal contraction at different ankle joint angles in young healthy adults. Using a single-b...

To investigate changes in muscle spindle sensitivity with early and late soleus reflex responses via tendon taps and transcranial magnetic stimulation, respectively, after an acute bout of prolonged static plantar flexor muscle stretching. Seventeen healthy males were tested before and after 5 min (5 ´ 60-s stretches) of passive static stretching o...

We tested the hypothesis that the magnitude of changes in indirect muscle damage markers would be greater after maximal elbow flexor eccentric exercise in the supinated (shorter biceps brachii) than neutral wrist (longer) position, and the difference in the magnitude would be associated with greater elongation over contractions for the supinated th...

Purpose: Simultaneous application of tendon vibration and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) induces an involuntary sustained torque. We examined the effect of different NMES parameters (intensity, pattern of stimulation and pulse width) on the magnitude of the evoked involuntary torque. Methods: Plantar flexor torque was recorded during...

Hamstring strain injury (HSI) remains the most common muscle injury in high-intensity running in humans. The majority of acute HSI occur specifically within the proximal region of the long head of biceps femoris and there is a sustained interest among researchers in understanding the factors that predispose to HSI. The present critical review descr...

Whereas a variety of pre-exercise activities have been incorporated as part of a “warm-up” prior to work, combat, and athletic activities for millennia, the inclusion of static stretching (SS) within a warm-up has lost favor in the last 25 years. Research emphasized the possibility of SS-induced impairments in subsequent performance following prolo...

Nervous system maladaptation is linked to the loss of muscle force production and motor control with aging. However, the mechanisms specifically underpinning these muscle functional limitations remain unclear. Motoneuron discharge rates are a critical determinant of force production and strongly impact motor control; thus, lower discharge rates cou...