Matt R Cross

Matt R Cross
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Matt verified their affiliation via an institutional email.
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Matt verified their affiliation via an institutional email.
Auckland University of Technology | AUT · Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ)

PhD
Senior Lecturer at AUT University, Sports Performance Research Institute and Human Potential Centre

About

86
Publications
213,422
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Introduction
Senior Lecturer and researcher interested in sports science, measurement tools, applied data analysis methods, and wellbeing.

Publications

Publications (86)
Article
Full-text available
Background The inclusion of skateboarding in the Olympics suggests that athletes and coaches are seeking ways to enhance their chances of succeeding on the world stage. Understanding what constitutes performance, and what physical, neuromuscular, and biomechanical capacities underlie it, is likely critical to success. Objective The aim was to over...
Article
Full-text available
Background Physique athletes are ranked by a panel of judges against the judging criteria of the corresponding division. To enhance on-stage presentation and performance, competitors in certain categories (i.e. bodybuilding and classic physique) achieve extreme muscle size and definition aided by implementing acute “peaking protocols” in the days b...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose To compare linear and curvilinear models describing the force–velocity relationship obtained in lower-limb acyclic extensions, considering experimental data on an unprecedented range of velocity conditions. Methods Nine athletes performed lower-limb extensions on a leg-press ergometer, designed to provide a very broad range of force and ve...
Article
Full-text available
When poor reliability of “output” variables is reported, it can be difficult to discern whether blame lies with the measurement (ie, the inputs) or the overarching concept. This commentary addresses this issue, using the force-velocity-power (FvP) profile in jumping to illustrate the interplay between concept, method, and measurement reliability. W...
Article
Purpose : To investigate the physiological characteristics of freestyle snowboard and freeski athletes and explore potential differences between males and females. Methods : National-team athletes, snowboard (9 males, 21 [2.3] y; 8 females, 20 [4.1] y) and freeski (10 males, 21 [2.1] y; 8 females, 18 [2.2] y), underwent physiological assessments: m...
Article
Full-text available
Context: Advancements in portable load-cell technology have enabled high-quality assessment of shoulder internal (IR) and external rotation (ER) peak force (Fmax) and rate of force development (RFD). This study's purpose was to explore the reliability and differences between IR and ER Fmax and RFD in different testing positions using a novel load-...
Article
In giant slalom, the ability to apply a high amount of force in the radial direction is essential for performance. A race is characterized by repeated turns performed at high velocity, potentially inducing fatigue. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of fatigue on performance, trajectory characteristics, and force production capacities...
Article
Full-text available
Ultrasound imaging is extensively used by both practitioners and researchers in assessing muscle thickness (MT); however, its use in the field is constrained by the transportability of stationary devices. New portable ultrasound probes pose as a cost-effective and transportable alternative for field-based assessments. This study evaluated the concu...
Article
Homer, KA, Cross, MR, and Helms, ER. A survey of resistance training practices among physique competitors during peak week. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2024—Physique athletes are ranked by their on-stage presentation of muscle size, proportionality, and leanness. To acutely maximize muscle size, competitors manipulate resistance training (R...
Article
Full-text available
Background Physique athletes are subjectively judged on their on-stage esthetic per their competition division criteria. To succeed, competitors look to acutely enhance their appearance by manipulating nutritional variables in the days leading up to competition, commonly referred to as peak week (PW). Despite their documented wide adoption, PW stra...
Conference Paper
INTRODUCTION: To acutely enhance appearance and thus performance, bodybuilders implement carbohydrate (CHO) loading protocols in the week before the competition (known as peak week [PW]) to increase muscle size through the supercompensation of muscle glycogen. While the use of such strategy is seemingly prevalent, experimental designs in the contex...
Article
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Measuring striking forces is important to provide actionable insight for training and performance enhancement for combat sport athletes. Recent technology may provide a low-cost solution to an otherwise complicated kinetic assessment. The aim was to assess the reliability and validity of a water-filled training bag and integrated sensor for measuri...
Article
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...
Article
Full-text available
Specific force capacities might be a limiting factor for alpine skiing performance, yet there is little consensus on the capabilities in question, and whether they differ between disciplines. We aimed to test discipline (speed and technical) and performance (event-specific world standing) effects on lower-limb force-production qualities. National-l...
Article
Full-text available
Alpine ski racers require diverse physical capabilities. While enhanced force production is considered key to high-level skiing, its relevance is convoluted. The aims of this study were to i) clarify the association between performance path length and velocity, ii) test the importance of radial force, and iii) explore the contribution of force magn...
Thesis
Full-text available
The literature characterizing force production during skiing, and the associated capacities of skiers, is complicated to synthesize due to aging results or relatively unspecific assessments. The overarching aim of this doctoral thesis was to clarify the importance of force output for skiing and of specific force-production capacities for different...
Thesis
Full-text available
The literature characterizing force production during skiing, and the associated capacities of skiers, is complicated to synthesize due to ageing results or relatively unspecific assessments. The overarching aim of this doctoral thesis was to clarify the importance of force-output for skiing and of specific force-production capacities for different...
Article
Full-text available
In alpine ski racing, different line choices can drastically affect turn or sectional performance. The straight-line transition between two turns is the main phase where skiers can gain speed in a race, open their trajectory, or reduce their path length. Between two turns, a skier can foster speed increase by spending more time in a straight line,...
Article
Full-text available
Context Strength-endurance mainly depends on the power output, which is often expressed relative to the individual’s maximal power capability (Pmax). However, an individual can develop the same power, but in different combinations of force and velocity (force-velocity condition). Also, at matched power output, changing the force-velocity condition...
Article
Full-text available
Cahill, MJ, Oliver, JL, Cronin, JB, Clark, K, Cross, MR, Lloyd, RS, and Lee, JE. Influence of resisted sled-pull training on the sprint force-velocity profile of male high-school athletes. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-Although resisted sled towing is a commonly used method of sprint-specific training, little uniformity exists around tra...
Article
Full-text available
There is a renewed interest is resisted sled training (RST); however, little uniformity exists regarding the integration of best practices in RST for young athletes. This article reviews the prescription of load, methods of RST, and the integration of sprint-specific periodized training blocks during the preparatory phase to elicit the greatest gai...
Thesis
Full-text available
Speed is an important athletic quality and needs to be developed in young athletes, this may be best achieved using specific forms of sprint training. Resisted sled training is a sprint specific form of training widely used by coaches and practitioners. The two modes of resisted sled training that exist are sled pushing and pulling, with limited re...
Article
Full-text available
We tested the hypothesis that the degree of adaptation to highly focused sprint training at opposite ends of the sprint Force-Velocity (FV) spectrum would be associated with initial sprint FV-profile in rugby athletes. Training-induced changes in sprint FV-profiles were computed before and after an 8-week in-season resisted or assisted sprint train...
Article
Full-text available
The aim of this study was to test individual adaptation kinetics to a high-resistance sprint training program designed to improve maximal horizontal power (Pmax), and compare the group and individual results of a classical “pre-post” analysis, and a “pre-peak” approach. Thirteen male and 9 female trained sprinters had their 30-m sprint performance...
Article
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of the 80s-slide-test in well-trained alpine ski racers. Methods: The sample consisted of 8 well-trained alpine ski racers (age = 17.8 [0.7] y old; height = 1.80 [0.09] m; body mass = 72.1 [9.5] kg) who performed a lab-based maximal graded test on cycle ergometer and...
Article
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Sled pushing is a commonly used form of resisted sprint training, however little empirical evidence exists, especially in youth populations. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of unresisted and resisted sled pushing across multiple loads. Fifty high school athletes were assigned to an unresisted (n=12), or 3 resisted groups; ligh...
Article
Full-text available
Cahill, M, Oliver, JL, Cronin, JB, Clark, K, Cross, MR, and Lloyd, RS. Sled-push load-velocity profiling and implications for sprint training prescription in young athletes. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2019-Resisted sled pushing is a popular method of sprint-specific training; however, little evidence exists to support the prescription of r...
Article
Full-text available
Measuring the ground reaction forces (GRF) underlying sprint acceleration is important to understanding the performance of such a common task. Until recently direct measurements of GRF during sprinting were limited to a few steps per trial, but a simple method (SM) was developed to estimate GRF across an entire acceleration. The SM utilizes displac...
Article
Full-text available
The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of individual load-velocity profiles and the between-athlete variation using the decrement in maximal velocity (Vdec) approach to prescribe training loads in resisted sled pulling in young athletes. Seventy high school, team sport, male athletes (age 16.7 ± 0.8 years) were recruited for the st...
Article
Full-text available
The assessment of horizontal force during overground sprinting is increasingly prevalent in practice and research, stemming from advances in technology and access to simplified yet valid field methods. As researchers search out optimal means of targeting the development of horizontal force, there is considerable interest in the effectiveness of ext...
Preprint
Full-text available
Measuring the ground reaction forces (GRF) underlying sprint acceleration is important to understanding the performance of such a common task, but until recently, direct measurements of GRF during sprinting were limited to only a few steps per trial. A simple method (SM) based on displacement- or velocity-time data fitted by an exponential model an...
Article
Full-text available
Resisted sprinting in the form of both sled pushing and pulling is a popular training method to improve speed capability, although research has been biased towards investigating the effects of sled pulling. Practitioners need to understand whether the sled push and pull offer differential training effects, and hence their utility in influencing spr...
Article
Lenetsky, S, Brughelli, M, Nates, RJ, Neville, JG, Cross, MR, and Lormier, AV. Defining the phases of boxing punches: A mixed-method approach. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2019-Current research on punching in boxing has explored both kinematic and kinetic variables; however, there is no shared structure in the literature to describe these fi...
Article
Full-text available
This study aimed to analyse fatigue-induced changes in mechanical sprinting properties during a specific repeated-sprint test in elite rugby sevens athletes. Twenty elite rugby sevens players performed ten 40 m sprints on a 30 s cycle with participant’s running back and forth in a marked lane. Radar was used to assess maximal overground sprint perf...
Preprint
The assessment of horizontal force during over-ground sprinting is becoming increasingly prevalent in practice and research, stemming from advances in technology and access to simplified field-methods. As researchers search out optimal means of targeting the development of horizontal force, there is considerable interest in the effectiveness of ext...
Article
Current research into punching in boxing has explored both kinematic and kinetic variables, however there is no shared structure in the literature to describe these findings. A common method used to provide a shared structure in other sporting tasks is the definition of movement phases. To define the phases of four punches used in boxing (lead and...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Introduction The mechanical determinants of short distance sprinting performance are currently unclear. While analyses have been performed on longer distance sprints (Morin et al. 2012), the importance of magnitude and expression of horizontal force production capabilities has not been clearly defined for short distances. This data would provide in...
Article
Full-text available
Aims In the current study we investigated the effects of resisted sprint training on sprinting performance and underlying mechanical parameters (force-velocity-power profile) based on two different training protocols: (i) loads that represented maximum power output (Lopt) and a 50% decrease in maximum unresisted sprinting velocity and (ii) lighter...
Data
Spreadsheet for optimal loading computation. (XLSX)
Data
Complementary methodological considerations. (DOCX)
Article
Full-text available
Purpose: To investigate differences between rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and percentage one-repetition maximum (1RM) load assignment in resistance-trained males (19–35 years) performing protocols with matched sets and repetitions differentiated by load-assignment. Methods: Participants performed squats then bench press 3x/weeks in a daily und...
Article
Full-text available
PurposeWe sought to compare force–velocity relationships developed from unloaded sprinting acceleration to that compiled from multiple sled-resisted sprints. Methods Twenty-seven mixed-code athletes performed six to seven maximal sprints, unloaded and towing a sled (20–120% of body-mass), while measured using a sports radar. Two methods were used t...
Chapter
Since sprinting involves very fast movement velocities (up to 12 m/s in the best athletes), experimental studies in this field have always been a technical challenge. Whilst sprint kinematics and distance-time or velocity-time variables were first described by the end of the 19th century, kinetics and especially ground reaction force and mechanical...
Article
We read with great interest and attention the case-study published by Setuain et al. (2017) and would like to express our concern regarding the methodology implemented and resultant data: in brief, the data appear to be incorrect. The authors address a topic of considerable interest - hamstring injury in soccer players (Ekstrand et al., 2016). The...
Article
Striking impact kinetics are central to performance in combat sports. Despite a multitude of assessment, few in the literature have explored the variability and reliability of punching force assessment. Consequently, this study assessed the variability and reliability of measured punching impact kinetics in untrained and experienced boxers, using a...
Article
The purpose of this study was to present a potential link between sprint kinetic (vertical [FV] and horizontal force [FH]) asymmetries and athletic performance during acceleration and maximal velocity (vmax) sprinting. Thirty un-injured male rugby athletes performed 8-s sprints on a non-motorised treadmill. Kinetic data were divided into ‘strong’ a...
Article
Full-text available
The ability of the human body to generate maximal power is linked to a host of performance outcomes and sporting success. Power-force-velocity relationships characterize limits of the neuromuscular system to produce power, and their measurement has been a common topic in research for the past century. Unfortunately, the narrative of the available l...
Article
Full-text available
The purpose of this investigation was to observe how a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) based autoregulation strategy impacted volume performed by powerlifters. Twelve (26+/-7yrs, n=9 male, n=3 female) nationally qualified powerlifters performed the back squat, bench press and deadlift 3x/wk. on non-consecutive days in a session order of hypertro...
Article
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This study assessed male (n=9) and female (n=3) powerlifters' (18-49yrs) ability to select loads using the repetitions in reserve (RIR)-based rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale for a single set for squat, bench press and deadlift. Subjects trained 3x/wk. for 3wks. on non-consecutive days in the weekly order of hypertrophy (8-repetitions at 8...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose The global application of horizontal force (FH) via hip extension is related to improvements in sprint performance (e.g. maximal velocity [vmax] and power [Pmax]). Little is known regarding the contribution of individual-leg FH and how a difference between the legs (asymmetry) might subsequently affect sprint performance. Methods We assesse...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose: To ascertain whether force-velocity-power relationships could be compiled from a battery of sled-resisted overground sprints and to clarify and compare the optimal loading conditions for maximizing power production for different athlete cohorts. Methods: Recreational mixed-sport athletes (n = 12) and sprinters (n = 15) performed multipl...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Sprint running acceleration is a key feature of physical performance in team sports, and recent literature shows that the ability to generate large magnitudes of horizontal ground-reaction force and mechanical effectiveness of force application are paramount. The authors tested the hypothesis that very-heavy loaded sled sprint training...
Article
Full-text available
Understanding the impact of friction in sled sprinting allows the quantification of kinetic outputs and the effective loading experienced by the athlete. This study assessed changes in the coefficient of friction (µk) of a sled sprint-training device with changing mass and speed to provide a means of quantifying effective loading for athletes. A co...
Thesis
Full-text available
The measurement of power-velocity and force-velocity relationships offers valuable insight into athletic capabilities. The qualities underlying maximum power (i.e. optimal loading conditions) are of particular interest in individualized training prescription and the enhanced development of explosive performance. While research has examined these th...
Article
Lower-extremity power characteristics are central to performance in rugby. However little is known regarding the effects of leg preference and playing position on sprint mechanics. The purpose of this study was to profile sprint kinetics and kinematics in rugby union athletes and compare between legs and between positions. Thirty male academy-level...
Presentation
Full-text available
Optimal load for maximizing power during sled sprinting
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Introduction Maximal power production (P max) is considered central to sprinting performance (Rabita et al. 2015). Power profiling during sprinting has occurred through several different methods (e.g. Samozino et a. 2015), allowing the magnitude and balance of mechanical capacities to be quantified and compared. However, no attempt has been made to...
Article
Full-text available
The purpose of this study was to compare average concentric velocity (ACV) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) based on repetitions in reserve on the squat, bench press and deadlift. Fifteen powerlifters (3 female, 12 male, 28.4 ± 8.5 years) worked up to a one repetition maximum (1RM) on each lift. RPE was recorded on all sets and ACV was record...