Bas Van Hooren

Maastricht University | UM · NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism

It is widely assumed that there is an eccentric hamstring muscle fibre action during the swing phase of high-speed running. However, animal and modelling studies in humans show that the increasing distance between musculotendinous attachment points during forward swing is primarily due to passive lengthening associated with the take-up of muscle sl...

Two movements that are widely used to monitor athletic performance are the countermovement and squat jump. Countermovement jump performance is almost always better than squat jump performance, and the difference in performance is thought to reflect an effective utilization of the stretch-shortening cycle. However, the mechanisms responsible for the...

It is widely believed that an active cool-down is more effective for promoting post-exercise recovery than a passive cool-down involving no activity. However, research on this topic has never been synthesized and it therefore remains largely unknown whether this belief is correct. This review compares the effects of various types of active cool-dow...

Background Treadmills are often used in research, clinical practice, and training. Biomechanical investigations comparing treadmill and overground running report inconsistent findings. Objective This study aimed at comparing biomechanical outcomes between motorized treadmill and overground running. Methods Four databases were searched until June...

Knowledge about muscular forces and fascicle behavior during hamstring exercises can optimize exercise prescription, but information on these outcomes across different exercises is lacking. We aimed to characterize and compare lower‐limb muscle forces as well as biceps femoris long head muscle fascicle behaviour between three hamstrings exercises:...

Purpose: This study assessed the cardiorespiratory capacity, anaerobic speed reserve, and anthropometric and spatiotemporal variables of a 75-year-old world-class middle-distance runner who previously obtained several European and world records in the age categories of 60-70 years, achieved 13 European titles and 15 world champion titles, and also...

Introduction: Accurate determination of total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) in athletes is important for optimal performance and injury prevention, but current approaches are insufficiently accurate. We therefore developed an approach to determine TDEE in professional cyclists based on power data, basal metabolic rate (BMR) and a non-exercise ph...

Objectives The association between single-joint isometric rate of force development (RFDISO) and jumping outcomes remain largely unexplored. Further, the importance of RFD assessed during jumping for jump height and duration (i.e. time from jump onset to take-off) remains ambiguous. We therefore investigated these associations in a large heterogeno...

Background Velocity loss (VL) experienced in a set during resistance training is often monitored to control training volume and quantify acute fatigue responses. Accordingly, various VL thresholds are used to prescribe resistance training and target different training adaptations. However, there are inconsistencies in the current body of evidence r...

Running with music has been shown to acutely change cadence. However, it is unclear if the increased cadence remains long-term when running without music in an in-field situation. The aim of this 12-week study was to investigate the effect of a 4-week music running program on cadence, speed and heartrate during and after the music running program....

Background: Context regarding how researchers determine the sample size of their experiments is important for interpreting the results and determining their value and meaning. Between 2018 and 2019, the journal Gait & Posture introduced a requirement for sample size justification in their author guidelines. Research Question: How frequently and in...

Data collection process This dataset includes continuously measured gait parameters using three- dimensional motion capture and gas exchanges of 18 healthy participants (9 male/9 female, mean ± standard deviation age 24.8 ± 3.3 years, height 1.71 ± 0.81 meter, weight 65.9 ± 8.1 kilogram). Gait parameters were recorded during four different self-pac...

Peak oxygen uptake (˙VO2peak) is an important factor contributing to running performance. Wearable technology may allow the assessment of ˙VO2peak more frequently and on a larger scale. We aim to i) validate the ˙VO2peak assessed by a smartwatch (Garmin Forerunner 245), and ii) discuss how this parameter may assist to evaluate and guide training pr...

Purpose Accurate measurement of energy expenditure (EE) using doubly labeled water depends on the estimate of total body water (TBW). The aims of this study were to 1) assess the accuracy of a new approach for estimating TBW and EE during high-energy turnover and 2) assess the accuracy of day-to-day assessment of EE with this new approach. Method...

One of the main benefits of the Nordic Hamstring Exercise (NHE) is that it can be performed without the need of any extra material. However, numerous technical execution variables such as the ankle and pelvis position can influence the performance. The primary aims of this study were to investigate the effects of ankle position (i.e., plantar or do...

Background: Treadmill assessments are often performed at a fixed speed. Feedback-controlled algorithms allow users to adjust the treadmill speed, hereby potentially better resembling natural self-paced locomotion. However, it is currently unknown whether the energetics and biomechanics of self-paced differ from fixed-paced treadmill walking. Such...

Background: Context regarding how researchers determine the sample size of their experiments is important for interpreting the results and determining their value and meaning. Between 2018 and 2019, the journal Gait & Posture introduced a requirement for sample size justification in their author guidelines.Research Question: How frequently and in w...

Background The acute effects of resistance training (RT) set structure alteration are well established; however, less is known about their effects on chronic training adaptations.Objective The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesise the available evidence on the effectiveness of traditional (TS), cluster (CS) and rest redi...

In jumping, countermovement increases net propulsive force and improves performance. We aimed to test whether this countermovement effect is velocity specific and examine the degree to which this varies between athletes, sports or performance levels. Force-velocity profiles were compiled in high-level skiers (N= 23) and sprinters (N= 30), with thei...

Objective The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the Nordic Hamstring Exercise (NHE) on sprint performance (i.e., 5, 10 and 20 m) and explore associations between study characteristics and sprint outcomes in team sport players. Secondary aims were to 1) investigate the effects of the NHE on eccentric strength of knee flexor...

Purpose Force-velocity-power (F-v-P) profiling can illustrate an individual’s sprinting capabilities, but no study has explored the effect of different running surfaces on F-v-P outcomes. Method Twelve elite youth football players (age 16.3 ± 0.5 years, mass 67.3 ± 5.4 kg, height 176.2 ± 4.6 cm) performed two 30 m sprints on concrete and artificia...

The mechanical properties of the surfaces used for exercising can affect sports performance and injury risk. However, the mechanical properties of treadmill surfaces remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was, therefore, to assess the shock absorption (SA), vertical deformation (VD) and energy restitution (ER) of different treadmill models a...

Voor een goed trainingseffect van een cardiovasculaire (duur) inspanning is het belangrijk dat de training op de juiste intensiteit wordt uitgevoerd. Een percentage van de geschatte maximale hartslag en de praattest zijn veel gebruikte methodes om de intensiteit van de inspanning te bepalen. Maar zijn deze wel nauwkeurig?

The aim of this study was to define a reliable and sensitive test method for assessing Shock Absorption (SA), Vertical Deformation (VD), and Energy Restitution (ER) in treadmill surfaces. A total of 42 treadmills belonging to four different models were included in the study: (a) Technogym Jog700 Excite (n = 10), (b) Technogym Artis Run (n = 12), (c...

Background: B-mode ultrasound is often used to quantify muscle architecture during movements. Objectives: 1) Systematically review the reliability of fascicle length (FL) and pennation angles (PA) measured using ultrasound during movements involving voluntary contractions, 2) systematically review the methods used in studies reporting reliabilit...

Some long-term athlete development models have proposed generic sensitive periods or “windows of opportunity” during childhood and adolescence that are optimal for training general motor abilities such as strength or speed. However, it remains unclear whether these periods exist. This review will therefore critically appraise the rationale behind g...

Draagbare technologie, zoals een footpod op de schoen, druk zooltjes in de schoen en een sporthorloge om de pols, is momenteel erg populair onder hardlopers omdat deze in realtime feedback kan geven over verschillende loopgerelateerde variabelen. In dit artikel wordt besproken hoe deze technologie toegepast kan worden om hardloopblessures te voorko...

Poor hamstring strength-endurance is a risk factor for hamstring injuries. This study investigated the effectiveness of the single-leg Roman hold and Nordic hamstring curl in improving hamstring strength-endurance. Twelve Gaelic footballers (mean ± standard deviation age, height and mass were 25.17 ± 3.46 years, 179.25 ± 5.88 cm, 85.75 ± 4.75 kilo)...

Injuries and lack of motivation are common reasons for discontinuation of running. Real-time feedback from wearables can reduce discontinuation by reducing injury risk and improving performance and motivation. There are however several limitations and challenges with current real-time feedback approaches. We discuss these limitations and challenges...

In deel 1 van deze reeks is het conceptuele fundament van de dynamische systeemtheorie toegelicht1 en in deel 2 is deze theorie toegepast bij een bewegingsanalyse van de honkbalpitch.2 Dit derde en laatste deel gaat in op de praktische vertaling van deze bewegingsanalyse naar fysieke training voor werpen in honkbal.

Background Treadmills are routinely used to assess running performance and training parameters related to physiological or perceived effort. These measurements are presumed to replicate overground running but there has been no systematic review comparing performance, physiology and perceived effort between treadmill and overground running. Objecti...

In deel 1 suggereerden we dat een dynamische systeembenadering binnen de sport kan bijdragen aan (1) het vinden van generieke aspecten en principes van beweging en (2) het aanpassen van bestaande oefenstof om deze geschikter te maken voor het lerende systeem om daarmee (3) de transfer naar de daadwerkelijke sportcontext te verbeteren. In dit tweede...

Veel beoefenaars van sporten met plyometrische belasting hebben wel eens pijn aan hun pezen. Deze pijn kan duiden op tendinopathie. Een disbalans in spier- en peeseigenschappen is een mogelijke oorzaak voor deze sportblessure. In dit artikel wordt toegelicht hoe pezen effectief getraind kunnen worden om deze disbalans te verminderen.

Bij differentieel leren worden veel variaties op een beweging toegepast om het motorisch leren te bevorderen. Is dit echter wel een effectieve methode?

Bij het NK atletiek dat in juni in haar woonplaats Utrecht plaatsvond, werd topfavoriete Dafne Schippers op de 100 meter gediskwalificeerd wegens een valse start. Haar totale reactietijd was volgens de tijdwaarnemers 87 ms, terwijl regel 162 van het reglement van de internationale atletiekfederatie (IAAF) stelt dat iemand een valse start maakt wann...

This article provides a short explanation of Magnitude-Based Inference. It also provides a link to a Youtube video that explains Magnitude-Based Inference in more detail and to a second video where I discuss the critique on Magnitude-Based Inference. I also suggest some alternative approaches.

Concepten uit de dynamische systeemtheorie worden steeds meer toegepast in de sport. In een serie van (vooralsnog) drie artikelen zullen een aantal van deze concepten en de praktische vertaling ervan binnen fysieke training toegelicht worden. In dit eerste deel wordt vooral aandacht besteed aan het conceptuele fundament

We have previously argued that there may actually be no significant eccentric, but rather predominantly an isometric action of the hamstring muscle fibres during the swing phase of high-speed running when the attachment points of the hamstrings are moving apart. Based on this we suggested that isometric rather than eccentric exercises are a more sp...

Veel trainers en (fysio)therapeuten testen hun sporters en patiënten regelmatig om hun fitheid en hun vooruitgang (of achteruitgang) ten opzichte van een vorige meting te monitoren. In dit artikel zal besproken worden hoe een spreadsheet met praktisch toepasbare statistiek hiervoor gebruikt kanworden.

The objectives of this systematic review were to (a) evaluate whether resistance training can improve the rapid force development in unloaded dynamic isoinertial multi-joint movements and (b) investigate whether these effects differ between untrained/recreationally trained and well-trained individuals. Four electronic databases were screened for st...

Steeds meer sporters trainen met een ‘hoogtemasker’. Fabrikanten van zulke maskers claimen dat dit hoogtetraining simuleert. Klopt dit echter wel? En heeft training met dit masker een positief effect op de sportprestatie?