Effects of Progressive and Velocity-Based Autoregulatory Resistance Training on Lower-Limb Movement Ability in Taekwondo Athletes.

Background: Both autoregulatory progressive resistance exercise (APRE) and velocity-based resistance training (VBRT) utilize real-time monitoring of athlete physical performance to adjust training loads to provide appropriate training stimuli. However, the monitoring and adjustment approaches differ between both methods. This study aimed to compare the effects of APRE and VBRT on the muscle strength, power, and agility of college taekwondo athletes.

Hypothesis: Eight weeks of APRE and VBRT will promote similar results to strength gains in regards maximal strength, but VBRT will be superior to APRE in explosive power and agility.

Study design: Clinical trial.

Level of evidence: Level 3.

Methods: Thirty taekwondo athletes were divided randomly into 2 groups (VBRT/APRE), and all participants completed an 8-week APRE/VBRT intervention. Maximum strength, explosive power, and agility performance were assessed during the squat 1-repetition maximum (1RM), countermovement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ), kicking strength test (KST), taekwondo-specific agility test (TSAT), and hexagon test (HT).

Results: Highly significant time effects (P < 0.01) were observed for squat 1RM, CMJ, and TSAT in both the APRE and VBRT groups. However, there were no significant group-by-time differences for any of the measured outcomes to intergroup (P > 0.05), but APRE had a small effect size (ES) over VBRT for CMJ (ES = 0.48, $\eta 2p$ = 0.06), TSAT (ES = 0.26, $\eta 2p$ = 0.02), and HT (ES = 0.42, $\eta 2p$ = 0.05).

Conclusion: An 8-week autoregulatory APRE and VBRT can both effectively improve both the maximal strength, explosive power, and agility performance of taekwondo athletes, with APRE exhibiting potential advantages in improving CMJ, TSAT, and HT.

Clinical relevance: These results provide important insights into the selection of suitable resistance training programs by professional coaches, taking into account athlete needs, training efficiency, and safety considerations.