Degree Name

MS (Master of Science)

Program

Sports Science and Coach Education

Date of Award

8-2018

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Dr. Caleb D. Bazyler

Committee Members

Dr. Satoshi Mizuguchi, Dr. Michael H. Stone, Dr. William A. Sands

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to observe psychological, physiological, and performance changes to determine when two high-level weightlifters were peaked for a major competition. We addressed this purpose by conducting a two-part case study series with one USA international level female and one USA national level male weightlifter. Both athletes were considered to be peaked on competition day. The results support our hypothesis that jumping performance would be peaked on competition day corresponding with an increased recovery and decreased stress state. However, contrary to our hypothesis, each athlete exhibited small decreases in muscle size leading into the competition relative to baseline values. Further, changes in inflammatory markers were inconsistent for each athlete and were not reduced as hypothesized. Based on our findings, this investigation supports the use of overreaching and tapering for individual strength-power athletes providing insight into underlying psychological and physiological basis for observed changes in performance.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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