Eccentric utilization ratio: Effect of sport and phase of training

Authors

Michael R. McGuigan, Edith Cowan University
Timothy Doyle, Edith Cowan University
Michael Newton, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Dylan J. Edwards, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Sophia Nimphius, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Robert U. Newton, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Journal Article

Publisher

National Strength and Conditioning Association

Faculty

Faculty of Computing, Health and Science

School

School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Science

RAS ID

5258

Comments

Mcguigan, M. R., Doyle, T. L., Newton, M. J., Edwards, D. , Nimphius, S. , & Newton, R. (2006). Eccentric utilization ratio: Effect of sport and phase of training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20(4), 992-995. Available here

Abstract

The eccentric utilization ratio (EUR), which is the ratio of countermovement jump (CMJ) to static jump (SJ) performance, has been suggested as a useful indicator of power performance in athletes. The purpose of the study was to compare the EUR of athletes from a variety of different sports and during different phases of training. A total of 142 athletes from rugby union, Australian Rules Football, soccer, softball, and field hockey were tested. Subjects performed both CMJ and SJ on a force plate integrated with a position transducer. The EUR was measured as the ratio of CMJ to SJ for jump height and peak power. The rugby union, Australian Rules Football, and hockey athletes were tested during off-season and preseason to provide EUR data during different phases of training. For men, EUR for soccer, Australian Rules Football, and rugby was greater than softball (effect size range, 0.83-0.92). For women, EUR for soccer was greater than field hockey and softball (0.86-1.0). There was a significant difference between the jump height and peak power method for the Australian Rules Football, rugby, and field hockey tests conducted preseason (p < 0.05). Fear field hockey, there was a significant increase in EUR from off-season to preseason. Athletes in sports such as soccer, rugby union, and Australian Rules Football appear to have higher EUR values, which reflects the greater reliance on stretch shortening activities in these sports. It does appear that EUR can be used to track changes in training with the values significantly increasing from off-season to preseason. The EUR provides the practitioner with information about the performance of athletes and appears to be sensitive to changes in the type of training being undertaken.