Athanasios Tsoukos

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• PhD
• Teaching Staff at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Background: We examined the effects of linear position transducer placement during Smith machine (SM) and free weight (FW) full squats on the mean velocity and the load-velocity relationship in trained women. In addition, we examined the relationship between the load-velocity characteristics and jump performance, to determine which testing approach...

Background: Flywheel resistance training has gained popularity due to its ability to induce eccentric overload and improve strength and power. This study examined the acute effects of low- (0.025 kg·m²) versus high-inertia (0.10 kg·m²) flywheel deadlifts, matched for force impulse, on the countermovement jump (CMJ) performance, reactive strength in...

Background: The tempo of resistance exercises is known to influence performance outcomes, yet its specific effects on post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of fast versus slow repetitions at a load of 70% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM) in the bench press exercise, focusing on ve...

Supplementary high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs, focusing on different aspects of fitness, are commonly used in soccer practice. This study examined the impact of two different HIIT formats applied during the competitive season on aerobic and neuromuscular performance. Twenty-six young players from two youth amateur soccer teams (age...

This study compared the acute effects of different ranges of motion (ROM) on fatigue and metabolic responses during repeated sets of bench press exercise. Ten resistance trained men performed three sets to momentary failure with two-min rest intervals at three different ROM: full ROM (FULL), and partial ROM in which the barbell was moved either at...

This study examined the effects of range of motion (ROM) on applied force, power output and surface electromyographic (sEMG) responses during repeated sets of bench press exercise executed as fast as possible. Ten resistance trained men performed three sets to momentary failure with two-min rest intervals under three different ROM conditions: (a) f...

This study aimed to examine whether a conditioning activity (CA) performed by the legs (barbell back squat) may cause postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE) on muscle groups other than leg extensors in isokinetic (eccentric [ECC] and concentric [CON]) and dynamic movement. Twelve male basketball players (age: 21.3 6 3.2, body mass: 89.6 6 14...

This study compared the effects of adding a weekly session of either strength training followed by high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or high load plyometric training followed by small-sided games (SSG) on aerobic fitness, goals scored and conceded, and match results. Twenty-nine players from two youth elite teams competing in an under 19 (U19...

Introduction: This study examined the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) and reperfusion on the mechanical properties of the rectus femoris muscle at rest (frequency and stiffness). Methods: Fourteen trained men (body weight = 81.0 ± 10.3 kg; BMI = 25 ± 3.0 m/kg²; height = 181 ± 4 cm; training experience = 6.0 ± 2.2 years) participated in an e...

We examined changes in barbell velocity and surface electromyographic activity (sEMG) during the concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC) phases of a bench press set. Ten men executed a set to instant exhaustion as fast as possible, against a low (40% 1-RM) and a heavy load (80% 1-RM), one week apart. The reduction in mean barbell velocity was lower in...

Intensity, movement velocity, and volume are the principal factors to successfully use postactivation performance enhancement. Therefore, 15 resistance-trained volleyball players completed 3 different back squat configurations as a conditioning activity (CA) in randomized order: (a) 3 sets of 3 repetitions at 85% 1RM (HL); (b) a single set of back...

We examined physiological responses and fatigue in adolescent boys and girls during a repeated shuttle-sprint running test in a school setting. We also compared three calculation methods to assess fatigue during repeated sprints: the fatigue index (FI), the percent sprint decrement (Sdec), and the slope of performance decrement (SlopeD). Twenty-six...

This study compared the effects of short-duration ischemic preconditioning, a single-set high-resistance exercise and their combination on subsequent bench press performance. Twelve men (age: 25.8 ± 6.0 years, bench press 1-RM: 1.21 ± 0.17 kg kg⁻¹ body mass) performed four 12 s sets as fast as possible, with 2 min of recovery between sets, against...

This review aimed to summarize the reported effects of unilateral conditioning activity (CA) on unilateral performance, bilateral performance, and the contribution of activated body limb to bilateral performance. A systematic search on MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted on February 2022. Twenty-three studies met the incl...

Previous studies measured kinematics and surface electromyographic activity (sEMG) during either the concentric (CON) or the eccentric (ECC) phase of muscle contractions in non-fatiguing and fatiguing conditions. However, data are sparse on the combined effects of fatigue and load during resistance exercise comprising multiple consecutive CON and E...

This study examined the effects of two different resistance loads during high-intensity Functional Training (HIFT) on body composition and maximal strength. Thirty-one healthy young individuals were randomly assigned into three groups: moderate load (ML: 70% 1-RM), low load-(LL: 30% 1-RM), and control (CON). Each experimental group performed HIFT t...

Background: This study examined the effects of a five-month lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic on physical fitness parameters in urban adolescent male and female students. Methods: Two hundred and ninety-three male and female students (age: 15.8 ± 0.3 years) who attended the fourth grade of the same high school during the years 2016-2017 (first c...

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of different conditioning activities (CAs) on short-term increase in sprint performance. In twelve male sprinters (21.1±2.6 years, 100 m performance: 11.5±0.6 s) their body composition, half squat maximum strength, 100 m sprinting and countermovement jump performances were evaluated. The pe...

Study aim : This study compared movement velocity and force-velocity profile parameters measured by a free video analysis software program, with the use of a high-speed video recording, and a validated linear position transducer (LPT). Material and methods : Ten team-sports athletes performed double-leg and single-leg ballistic lower limb extension...

The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute effects of ischemia used during rest periods on bar velocity changes during the bench press exercise at progressive loads, from 20 to 90% of 1RM. Ten healthy resistance trained men volunteered for the study (age = 26.3 ± 4.7 years; body mass = 89.8 ± 6.3 kg; bench press 1RM = 142.5 ± 16.9...

This study examined changes in movement velocity and surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity of the pectoralis major (PM) and triceps brachii (TB) muscles during the bench press exercise to failure against different loads. Fourteen men performed a set to failure with maximum intended velocity, against low (40%‐1 repetition maximum‐RM), moderate (...

The acute effects of heavy load bench press exercise on subsequent bench press throw (BPT) performance and surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity were examined using movement velocity control. Eleven resistance-trained men completed 3 conditions in randomized and counterbalanced order. In 2 conditions, bench press was performed as fast as possib...

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a battery of anthropometric and lower and upper body strength, speed and power tests predicted selection of young volleyball players for a Junior National Team by expert coaches. Fifty-two male junior volleyball players (14.8±0.5 yrs, height: 1.84±0.05 m, body mass: 72.5±7.1 kg) took part in...

This study examined the acute effects of the bench press exercise with low and moderate loads as well as with two predetermined movement velocity loss percentages on bench press throw performance and surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity. Ten trained men completed 5 main trials in randomized and counterbalanced order one week apart. Mean propul...

This study examined whether anthropometric and fitness tests might successfully predict selection of young female volleyball players for a junior national team. Sixty four female players (age: 14.4 ± 0.5 y, body height: 1.76 ± 0.05 m, body mass: 63.9 ± 6.4 kg) underwent a selection procedure for the junior national team. Anthropometric data and spe...

This study compared the effects of unilateral and bilateral plyometric training on single and double-leg jumping performance, maximal strength and rate of force development (RFD). Fifteen moderately trained subjects were randomly assigned to either a unilateral (U, n=7) or bilateral group (B, n=8). Both groups performed maximal effort plyometric le...

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a short-term, high-intensity, low-volume Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) specific strength and conditioning training program on performance in national level MMA athletes. Seventeen experienced fighters were divided into two groups: (A) Specific Training Group (STG; n = 10), which followed...

This study compared knee angle-specific neuromuscular adaptations after two low-volume isometric leg press complex training programmes performed at different muscle lengths. Fifteen young males were divided into two groups and trained three times per week for 6 weeks. One group (n = 8) performed 5–7 sets of 3 s maximum isometric leg press exercise,...

A benchmark is a reference point for comparisons established from the value of a performance indicator. In order to create benchmarks for volleyball, we used performance data from each team of the Greek Volley League from the season 2005–2006 until the season 2016–2017 (N = 143). We considered the effectiveness of 14 parameters from five skills: se...

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a short-term fast eccentric and ballistic complex training program on muscle power, rate of force development (RFD), muscle fiber composition and cross-sectional area (CSA). Methods: Sixteen male physical education students were randomly assigned to either a training group (TG...

This study examined the delayed effects of a power type training session on explosive performance. Seventeen well-trained male power and team sport athletes (age: 22.7±5.5 y, height: 181±8 cm, body mass: 80.7±8.6 kg, body fat: 9.2±1.7 %, 1-RM half-squat: 163±29 kg) performed four sessions (2 experimental and 2 control) one week apart in a randomize...

Introduction Maximal isometric muscle actions are commonly used to induce postactivation potentiation (PAP) of the lower limbs (Tillin & Bishop, 2009). However, little is known regarding the effects of muscle length on PAP, and there is evidence suggesting that subsequent muscle performance is a balance between muscle activation and fatigue (Hamada...

The purpose of this study was to determine whether anthropometric measurements and fitness test results can discriminate between selected and non-selected junior volleyball players. Forty three male junior volleyball players (age: 15.0±0.7 yrs) took part in training camp and underwent a selection procedure by coaches of the junior national team. An...

Purpose: This study examined the acute effects of a conditioning plyometric exercise on long jump performance during a simulated long jump competition. Methods: Eight national level track and field decathletes performed six long jump attempts with a full approach run separated by ten minutes of recovery. In the experimental condition subjects pe...

Plyometric training is commonly used to improve lower limb explosive strength. Due to the fact that force generated when the muscles of both legs act simultaneously (bilateral), is lower than the sum of force generated by each limb acting separately (unilateral), it was hypothesized that unilateral plyometric training would be more effective compar...

This study examined the acute effects of maximum isometric squats at two different knee angles (90 or 140) on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance in power athletes. Fourteen national level male track and field power athletes completed 3 main trials (two experimental and one control) in a randomized and counterbalanced order one week apart. CMJ p...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a combination of power training with isometric leg press training at two different knee angles on muscle force and vertical jump performance. METHODS: Fifteen male university students (age: 21.5±2.0 yrs, height: 177±5 cm, body mass: 78±8 kg) trained three times per week for 6 weeks. Following the preliminary tests...

This study investigated the effects of muscle action type during conditioning activity (half-squat) on subsequent vertical jump performance. Fourteen track and field athletes (relative half-squat of 2.3 ± 0.3 times their body weight) completed 4 main trials in a randomized and counterbalanced order 5-7 days apart: a) concentric halfsquats (CON): 7....

Η παραγωγή δύναμης και ισχύος από ένα σκελετικό μυ εξαρτάται όχι μόνο από τα φυσιολογικά του χαρακτηριστικά αλλά και από την προηγηθείσα δραστηριότητά του. Ως μεταδιεγερτική ενεργοποίηση ορίζεται η βραχυπρόθεσμη βελτίωση της μυϊκής απόδοσης η οποία επέρχεται μετά από έντονη εθελούσια ή ηλεκτρικά προκλητή μυϊκή σύσπαση. Οι κύριοι φυσιολογικοί μηχανι...

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) is the temporary enhancement of force or power output following an intense voluntary conditioning muscle contraction. Although it has been shown that isometric conditioning contractions may be more effective than dynamic in inducing PAP, there is evidence that they may also cause fatigue which may counteract the p...

The aim of this study was to identify the most significant variables that contribute to standing long jump (SLJ) performance in young boys and girls. Standing long jump (SLJ), vertical counter movement jump (CMJ), 10 m and 20 m time were measured in 59 boys and 66 girls aged 9-12 years. Technique during the SLJ (SLJtech) was rated by an experienced...