April 2020; Vol. 9, No. 1: Pages 11-14
A short communication on the relationships between the barbell hip thrust and change-of-direction speed in college-aged women
Robert G. Lockie, Ashley J. Orjalo, Samuel J. CallaghanAbstract
Objectives: To determine the relationships between the one-repetition maximum barbell hip thrust (1RM BHT) with change-of-direction (COD) speed measured by the 505 in college-aged, recreationally-trained women. Design and Methods: Twenty college-aged women completed two testing sessions. In session 1, participants completed a 1RM BHT to measure absolute and relative lower-body strength, with an emphasis on the hip extensors. In Session 2, participants completed four trials (two per leg) of the 505 COD speed test. The mean of the two trials per leg was analyzed; the leg with the fastest 505 time was termed the dominant leg. Pearson's correlations (p<0.05) and regression scatter plots were used to calculate relationships between absolute and relative BHT strength and the 505 measured from the dominant and non-dominant leg. Results: There were significant relationships between relative strength measured by the 1RM BHT and the 505 from the dominant (r=-0.473, p=0.035) and non-dominant (r=-0.452, p=0.046) legs, with ~21-22% explained variance. There were no significant relationships between absolute BHT strength and the 505 (r=-0.291 to -0.309, p=0.184-0.213). Conclusions: Relative maximal hip extensor strength could be an important contributor to faster COD as measured by the 505 in college-aged, recreationally-trained females. The correlation strength and explained variance indicates that there are likely other factors beyond relative strength measured by the BHT that would contribute to a faster 505. Nonetheless, the results of this short communication provide support for developing hip extensor strength in females, as this could benefit COD speed in actions similar to those in the 505.
Received December 26, 2019; accepted April 6, 2020