Brent A Alvar

Point Loma Nazarene University | PLNU · Kinesiology

Background: The Bodyblade™ has the potential of enhancing conservative management of Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Instability (TASI). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare three different protocols: Traditional, Bodyblade™, and Mixed (Traditional & Bodyblade™) shoulder rehabilitation on the Western Ontario Shoulder Index (WOSI) and Uppe...

Dawes, JJ, Lopes dos Santos, M, Kornhauser, C, Holmes, RJ, Alvar, BA, Lockie, RG, and Orr, RM. Longitudinal changes in health and fitness measures among state patrol officers by sex. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2022-Research suggests that police officers lose fitness as a result of their policing vocation with occupational factors like stre...

The aim of this study was to determine if bar velocity can be used to estimate the one-repetition maximum (1RM) on the hexagonal bar deadlift. Twenty-two NCAA Division I male ice hockey players (age= 21.0 ± 1.5 yrs, height= 182.9 ± 7.3 cm, body mass= 86.2 ± 7.3 kg) completed a progressive loading test using the hexagonal bar deadlift at maximum int...

This study examined the short-term effects (post 6 h and 24 h) of two equated (70% of 1 repetition maximum (1-RM)) low volume resistance exercise protocols: (i) velocity-controlled (VC) and (ii) repetition to failure (RTF) on upper and lower body performance in competitive adolescent male basketball players. Following a randomized, counterbalanced...

The purpose of this study was to determine relationships between components of physical fitness on performance in an occupation-specific physical ability test (PAT) for state patrol officers (women, n = 19; men, n = 256) using archived data. Physical fitness was assessed by 2.4 km run time (2.4 R), body fat % (BF), 1 min sit-up (SU), 1-min push-up...

Neeld, KL, Peterson, BJ, Dietz, CC, Cappaert, TA, and Alvar, BA. Impact of preceding workload on team performance in collegiate men's ice hockey. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2021-Although the workload-injury relationship has received ample research attention, the relationship between prior workload and performance in team sport remains poor...

Background: Despite the importance of using a thorough understanding of competition demands to optimize preparatory strategies, there is a paucity of longitudinal workload data in ice hockey. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine differences in workload characteristics between training and matches, and assess differences between fo...

Firefighting is a profession that has the potential to be extremely demanding, both physically and mentally. More specifically, these tactical personnel must be physically fit to perform their occupational requirements, all while they are exposed to daily stressors. This is likely to include everything from physical strain and shift work to interru...

Physical fitness is an important aspect of physical health and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 11-weeks of formal strength and conditioning training conducted during fire academy training on the physical fitness characteristics of firefighter trainees. Archived physical fitness data for 23 male fire academy traine...

College students are required to manage a variety of stressors related to academic, social, and financial commitments. In addition to the burdens facing most college students, collegiate athletes must devote a substantial amount of time to improving their sporting abilities. The strength and conditioning professional sees the athlete on nearly a da...

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(2): X-Y, 2020. Simulated fire ground scenarios (SFGS) provide firefighters with an opportunity to maintain skills, receive feedback, and optimize performance. Although there is extensive research on heart rate (HR) changes in the firefighter population, few examine the differences between positions. Fire...

Simulated fire ground scenarios (SFGS) provide firefighters with an opportunity to maintain skills, receive feedback, and optimize performance. Although there is extensive research on heart rate (HR) changes in the firefighter population, few examine the differences between positions. Firefighters are primarily responsible for fire suppression and...

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is prevalent with 40 million Americans smoking and one in five deaths attributed to this behavior. Aims: This study examined effects of a resistance training (RT) program on smoking abstinence self-efficacy. Methods: Forty (40) participants were randomized into intervention or control groups. Smoking abstinence self-...

Study design: Randomized controlled trial. Objective: The determine the short-term effectiveness of thoracic manipulation (MAN) when compared to sham manipulation (SHAM) for individuals with LBP. Background: Low back pain is one of the most prevalent and disabling musculoskeletal conditions. The management of LBP has been studied extensively,...

Simulated fire ground scenarios (SFGS) provide firefighters an opportunity to maintain their skills and receive team feedback in order to optimize their performance. Although there is extensive research on heart rate (HR) changes in the firefighter population, very few have examined these differences between positions. Purpose/Objective: To quantif...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 12-week in-home self-monitored physical activity (PA) program targeting a combination of lifestyle physical activity program on changes in endothelial reactivity, arterial stiffness, sedentary behaviors, upright and stepping activities in individuals with asymptomatic peripheral ar...

Background: It has been hypothesized that the ability to increase volume load (VL) via a progressive increase in the magnitude of load for a given exercise within a given repetition range could enhance the adaptive response to resistance training. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare changes in volume load (VL) over eight weeks o...

Nindl, BC, Alvar, BA, Dudley, JR, Favre, MW, Martin, GJ, Sharp, MA, Warr, BJ, Stephenson, MD, and Kraemer, WJ. Executive summary from the National Strength and Conditioning Association's second Blue Ribbon Panel on military physical readiness: Military physical performance testing. J Strength Cond Res 29(11S): S216-S220, 2015-The National Strength...

The first installment of this two-part commentary reviewed existing models of long-term athletic development. However, irrespective of the model that is adopted by practitioners, existing structures within competitive youth sports in addition to the prevalence of physical inactivity in a growing number of modern-day youth may serve as potential bar...

Eccentric muscle actions (ECC) are characterized by muscle lengthening, despite actin-myosin crossbridge formation. Muscles acting eccentrically are capable of producing higher levels of force compared to muscles acting concentrically. The purpose of this study was to determine if ECC bench press yields greater strength than concentric (CON) as det...

The first installment of this two-part commentary reviewed existing models of long-term athletic development. However, irrespective of the model that is adopted by practitioners, existing structures within competitive youth sports in addition to the prevalence of physical inactivity in a growing number of modern day youth, may serve as potential ba...

Regimented resistance training has been shown to promote marked increases in skeletal muscle mass. Although muscle hypertrophy can be attained through a wide range of resistance training programs, the principle of specificity, which states that adaptations are specific to the nature of the applied stimulus, dictates that some programs will promote...

Resumen El manuscrito actual es la traducción del Posicionamiento sobre el Entrenamiento de Fuerza para Jóvenes: el Consenso Internacional de 2014. El consenso original es a su vez una adaptación del posicionamiento de la United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association. British Journal of Sports Medicine y representa el documento nal rati cado...

The current manuscript is a translation of the Position statement on youth resistance training: the 2014 International Consensus. The original manuscript was adapted from the oficial position statement of the UK Strength and Conditioning Association on youth resistance training. It was subsequently reviewed and endorsed by leading professional orga...

AS A RESULT OF THE POPULATION EXPLOSION (TERMED THE BABY BOOM), THERE IS A PROGRESSIVE AGING OF THE AMERICAN POPULACE AND AS SUCH ADDITIONAL NEED FOR ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES TO WORK WITH SPECIAL POPULATIONS. ONE OF THE LARGEST CATEGORIES OF CHRONIC DISEASES THAT ARE RELATED TO AGING AND LIFESTYLE CHOICE...

While studies have examined changes in body composition, fitness and other measures pre- and post-deployment, it is more difficult to characterize physical training practices during deployment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between training frequency during deployment and changes in physical performance, body composition...

To characterize noncombat injury/illness, determine changes in physical fitness, and evaluate the influence of these changes on medical resource utilization by National Guard (NG) Soldiers. Fifty-four Soldiers from the Arizona NG completed pre- and postdeployment fitness testing. Additionally, individual deployment medical records were inventoried....

The research on the effects of aquatic exercise is a field that has grown rapidly in the last decade. The majority of the available literature is focused on the benefits of water-based exercise programs for people with rheumatologic disease and back pain; however, there is a lack of evidence reporting the effects of exercise performed in an aquatic...

Currently, there is a paucity of literature that describes physical fitness levels in deploying service members. There has been no data collected that evaluate the Army National Guard or Reserves. This descriptive study will provide physical fitness data for soldiers in the Arizona National Guard (AZNG), allowing for a comparison between the active...

The purpose of this study was to determine the applicability of the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale as a means of controlling resistance training intensity and establishing the relationship between the RPE value, load, and mechanical power (MP) produced during the bench press. Eleven men (22.1 ± 1.0 years) were evaluated on 8 separate days...

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of warm-up protocols using either whole-body vibration (WBV) or cycle ergometry (CE) on peak torque at 3 different isokinetic speeds and on fatigue in the knee extension exercise. Twenty-seven recreationally trained (age = 23.59 ± 3.87 years) men (n = 14) and women (n = 13) were tested at 3 diffe...

This study evaluated the effects of various resistance exercise protocols on 24-hour postexercise insulin sensitivity. Seventeen participants with impaired fasting glucose (100-125 mg/dL) completed 4 separate bouts of resistance exercise under moderate intensity (65% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]) or high intensity (85% 1RM) conditions within the conf...

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine the accuracy of the Scale of Perceived Exertion (RPE) OMNI RES 0-10 and the Linear Velocity (V) to predict the 1RM value in two resistance training exercises: Bench Press (BP) and Parallel Squat (PS), in a group of young baseball players. METHOD: 32 young men baseball players (15.6+0.7 yr) performed...

The study purpose was to establish a descriptive measure of how strength and conditioning coaches feel about various aspects of their jobs using the Job Satisfaction Survey (Specter, 1997). Participants were strength and conditioning coaches from three major Division I-AA conferences. Data were collected using the standard Job Satisfaction Survey a...

Rate of velocity development is the measured range of motion traveled from 0 to the target velocity, therefore, a lower value equates to greater limb acceleration. The time it takes to reach max velocity is a critical component to success for athletes. This may contribute to converting the foundation of strength into performance velocity, which is...

Literature has clearly demonstrated that in a population with some resistance training experience, performing multiple sets per training session of a resistance exercise is superior to performing a single set for eliciting strength. It is less clear, however, whether this remains true in measures other than those specifically targeted in training....

The purpose of this study was to examine the strength benefits of an eccentric-only protocol versus a standard and concentric-only protocol in a multi-joint lift (bench press). Additionally, a secondary purpose was to examine the same protocol's ability to elicit power benefits (seated medicine ball put). Forty-Two men (mean±SD, age 24.9 ± 5.1 yr.,...

The main objective of this study was to describe and quantify the total distance crossed by a group of the College-aged Soccer players during different competition matches, differentiating between the positions in field (defense, midfielder and forward). As second objective, we compare the distance measures in this category with those registered in...

Strength and conditioning coaches are always looking for ways to optimize gains in muscular strength. Previous resistance training research has examined the efficacy of non periodized multiple-set versus single-set, and linear as compared to non periodized multiple-set models on gains in muscular strength. Conversely, less research has examined the...

To evaluate the reliability and validity of five commonly used physical activity questionnaires (PAQ) in women aged 45-65 yr with varying physical activity (PA) levels. Data were obtained from the Evaluation of Physical Activity Measures in Middle-aged Women (PAW) Study and included 66 women (aged 52.6 +/- 5.4 yr). PAQ evaluated include Modifiable...

Maximal Dynamic Strength is usually assessed either by the one repetition maximum test (1-RM) or by a repetition maximum test with submaximal loads, which requires the application of a formula to estimate the value of 1-RM. This value is needed to establish the objective of resistance training: such as maximum strength, endurance strength, and/or e...

SUMMARY In order to stimulate further adaptation toward specific training goals, progressive resistance training (RT) protocols are necessary. The optimal characteristics of strength-specific programs include the use of concentric (CON), eccentric (ECC), and isometric muscle actions and the performance of bilateral and unilateral single- and multip...

Firefighters routinely encounter physical demands that contribute to countless musculoskeletal injuries. Seemingly, a progressive prescription for fitness would offer superior protection against intrinsic job risks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of two resistance training interventions on fitness adaptations among firef...

Complex training is the simultaneous combination of heavy resistance training and plyometrics. The objective of this study was to test the effects of complex training vs. heavy resistance or plyometric interventions alone on various power-specific performance measures. Forty-five male division II junior college baseball players participated in 3 se...

Critical to multidimensional sport conditioning is a systematic knowledge of the interactions between fitness components, as well as the transference relationships to performance. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationships between lower body muscular strength and several fundamental explosive performance measures. Fifty-four...

There has been a proliferation in recent scholarly discussion regarding the scientific validity of single vs. multiple sets of resistance training (dose) to optimize muscular strength development (response). Recent meta-analytical research indicates that there exist distinct muscular adaptations, and dose-response relationships, that correspond to...

There has been a proliferation in recent scholarly discussion regarding the scientific validity of single vs. multiple sets of resistance training (dose) to optimize muscular strength development (response). Recent meta-analytical research indicates that there exist distinct muscular adaptations, and dose-response relationships, that correspond to...

The efficiency, safety, and effectiveness of strength training programs are paramount for sport conditioning. Therefore, identifying optimal doses of the training variables allows for maximal gains in muscular strength to be elicited per unit of time and also for the reduction in risk of overtraining and/or overuse injuries. A quantified dose-respo...

The efficiency, safety, and effectiveness of strength training programs are paramount for sport conditioning. Therefore, identifying optimal doses of the training variables allows for maximal gains in muscular strength to be elicited per unit of time and also for the reduction in risk of overtraining and/or overuse injuries. A quantified dose-respo...

Accurate correlations between a wide range of physical fitness measures and occupational demands are needed in order to identify specific fitness tests and training needs for firefighters. Twenty professional firefighters performed numerous fitness and job-related performance tests. Pearson product moment correlations were performed to identify the...

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of the presence of an audience and competition on maximal weight lifting performance. Thirty-two recreationally trained participants (15 men, 17 women; 21 +/- 2.5 years) performed a 1 repetition maximum (1 RM) bench press during 3 different situations (coaction, competitive coaction, and...

The identification of a quantifiable dose-response relationship for strength training is important to the prescription of proper training programs. Although much research has been performed examining strength increases with training, taken individually, they provide little insight into the magnitude of strength gains along the continuum of training...

The purpose of this study was to compare linear periodization (LP), daily undulating periodization (DUP), and reverse linear periodization (RLP) for gains in local muscular endurance and strength. Sixty subjects (30 men, 30 women) were randomly assigned to LP, DUP, or RLP groups. Maximal repetitions at 50% of the subject's body weight were recorded...

The purpose of this study was to compare single and multiple sets of weight training for strength gains in recreationally trained individuals. Sixteen men (age = 21 +/- 2.0) were randomly assigned to 1 set (S-1; n = 8) or 3 set (S-3; n = 8) groups and trained 3 days per week for 12 weeks. One repetition maximum (1RM) was recorded for bench press an...

The purpose of this research was to compare isometric values (0°s -1) with isokinetic values generated at slow speeds (12°s -1, 30°s -1 and 60°s -1) based on measurement of 40 college males. A one-way ANOVA indicated a significant difference with respect to speeds (F 3,148 = 13.10, p < 0.01). A post hoc analysis showed that all speeds were signific...

Since the early 1960's interest has risen for using electrical stimulation (ES) as a supplement to voluntary effort in strength training programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ES combined with simultaneous maximum dynamic contraction. An experimental, randomized control group was used. The independent variables wer...

Forty subjects (mean = 22.5 years, S.D. 2.56 years) were randomly selected who were not regularly involved in routine stretching exercises for the hamstring and low back. Subjects were compared for flexibility increase of the hamstrings and low back after a four-week training period using traditional stretching techniques and a new device, the Powe...

This research project was completed to compare the maximal strength values (peak torque) at different speeds on an isokinetic dynamometer. The research was also conducted to establish norms for a specific population. 40 collegiate and recreational athletes volunteered to be tested on a Cybex 340 Isokinetic Dynamometer. Each subject was tested at 0...