All Outputs (221)

Movement Specificity: What does it mean? (2012)
Journal Article
Graham-Smith, P., Comfort, P., Jones, P., & Matthews, M. (2012). Movement Specificity: What does it mean?. Professional strength & conditioning,

When an exercise is described as ‘specific’, there is an assumption that the exercise is ‘functional’ and is therefore transferable to a sports skill. Often the main criteria for ‘specificity’ is that the exercise must follow the same movement patter... Read More about Movement Specificity: What does it mean?.

The affect of loading on kinematic and kinetic variables during the mid-thigh clean pull (2012)
Journal Article
Comfort, P., Udall, R., & Jones, P. (2012). The affect of loading on kinematic and kinetic variables during the mid-thigh clean pull. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(5), 1208-1214. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182510827n

The ability to develop high levels of muscular power is considered a fundamental component for many different sporting activities; however, the load that elicits peak power still remains controversial. The primary aim of this study was to determine a... Read More about The affect of loading on kinematic and kinetic variables during the mid-thigh clean pull.

Are changes in maximal squat strength during pre-season training reflected in sprint performance in rugby league players? (2012)
Journal Article
Comfort, P., Haigh, A., & Matthews, M. (2012). Are changes in maximal squat strength during pre-season training reflected in sprint performance in rugby league players?. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(3), 772-776. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31822a5cbf

Comfort, P, Haigh, A, and Matthews, MJ. Are changes in maximal squat strength during preseason training reflected in changes in sprint performance in rugby league players? J Strength Cond Res 26(3): 772–776, 2012—Because previous research has show... Read More about Are changes in maximal squat strength during pre-season training reflected in sprint performance in rugby league players?.

Occurrence of fatigue during sets of static squat jumps at a variety of loads (2012)
Journal Article
Thomasson, M., & Comfort, P. (2012). Occurrence of fatigue during sets of static squat jumps at a variety of loads. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(3), 677-683. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31822a61b5

Thomasson, ML and Comfort, P. Occurrence of fatigue during sets of static squat jumps performed at a variety of loads. J Strength Cond Res 26(3): 677–683, 2012—Research has identified that the optimal power load for static squat jumps (with no cou... Read More about Occurrence of fatigue during sets of static squat jumps at a variety of loads.

Determination of optimal load during the power clean, in collegiate athletes (2012)
Journal Article
Comfort, P., Fletcher, C., & McMahon, J. (2012). Determination of optimal load during the power clean, in collegiate athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(11), 2962-2969. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318245bed4

Although previous research has been performed in similar areas of study, the optimal load for the development of peak power during training remains controversial, and this has yet to be established in collegiate level athletes. The purpose of this st... Read More about Determination of optimal load during the power clean, in collegiate athletes.

Nitrate ingestion: Implication for performance and training (2012)
Journal Article
Mahoney, L., Wiper, M., & Comfort, P. (2012). Nitrate ingestion: Implication for performance and training. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 34(4), 22-25. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e31824eda1e

Summary: increasing blood flow to working muscles, through increased vasodilatation, has the potential to increase work capacity during both aerobic and anaerobic performances and possibly enhance recovery through increased nutrient delivery. because... Read More about Nitrate ingestion: Implication for performance and training.

Lower limb stiffness: Effect on performance and training considerations (2012)
Journal Article
McMahon, J., Comfort, P., & Pearson, S. (2012). Lower limb stiffness: Effect on performance and training considerations. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 34(6), 94-101. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e3182781b4e

Summary: the aim of this review was to summarize the research to date on lower limb stiffness in relation to both its effect on performance and training considerations. Evidence suggests that some amount of lower limb stiffness is required for succes... Read More about Lower limb stiffness: Effect on performance and training considerations.

A comparison of maximal squat strength and five, ten and twenty meter sprint times in Athletes and recreationally trained individuals (2012)
Journal Article
Comfort, P., Bullock, N., & Pearson, S. (2012). A comparison of maximal squat strength and five, ten and twenty meter sprint times in Athletes and recreationally trained individuals. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(4), 937-940. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31822e5889

A comparison of maximal squat strength and 5-, 10-, and 20-meter sprint times, in athletes and recreationally trained men. J Strength Cond Res 26(4): 937-940, 2012-The purpose of this study was to identify whether there was a relationship between rel... Read More about A comparison of maximal squat strength and five, ten and twenty meter sprint times in Athletes and recreationally trained individuals.

Kinetic comparisons during variations of the power clean (2011)
Journal Article
Comfort, P., Allen, M., & Graham-Smith, P. (2011). Kinetic comparisons during variations of the power clean. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(12), 3269-3274. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182184dea

The aim of this investigation was to determine the differences in peak power, peak vertical ground reaction forces, and rate of force development (RFD) during variations of the power clean. Elite rugby league players (n = 16; age 22 6 1.58 years;... Read More about Kinetic comparisons during variations of the power clean.

An investigation into the acute effects of depth jumps on maximal strength performance (2011)
Journal Article
Bullock, N., & Comfort, P. (2011). An investigation into the acute effects of depth jumps on maximal strength performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(11), 3137-3141. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318212e224

Research has demonstrated that high-load low-velocity (HLLV) exercises ($85% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]) increase performance in subsequent low-load high-velocity (LLHV) exercises, when separated by a rest period $4 minutes. To date, few studies... Read More about An investigation into the acute effects of depth jumps on maximal strength performance.

The effect of peer tutoring on academic achievement during practical assessments in applied sports science students (2011)
Journal Article
Comfort, P. (2011). The effect of peer tutoring on academic achievement during practical assessments in applied sports science students. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 48(2), 207-211. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2011.564015

Peer tutoring has been shown to be highly effective in enhancing both tutor and tutee achievements and skill development in a range of educational settings, although this has not currently been investigated in an applied sports science degree setting... Read More about The effect of peer tutoring on academic achievement during practical assessments in applied sports science students.

Comparisons of peak ground reaction force and rate of force development during variations of the power clean (2011)
Journal Article
Comfort, P., Allen, M., & Graham-Smith, P. (2011). Comparisons of peak ground reaction force and rate of force development during variations of the power clean. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(5), 1235-1239. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181d6dc0d

The aim of this investigation was to determine the differences in vertical ground reaction forces and rate of force development (RFD) during variations of the power clean. Elite rugby league players (n = 11; age 21 ± 1.63 years; height 181.56 ± 2.61... Read More about Comparisons of peak ground reaction force and rate of force development during variations of the power clean.

Strength and power characteristics in English elite rugby league players (2011)
Journal Article
Comfort, P., Graham-Smith, P., Matthews, M., & Bamber, C. (2011). Strength and power characteristics in English elite rugby league players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(5), 1374-1384. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181d687f5

The aim of this article is to present data on the strength and power characteristics of forwards and backs in a squad of elite English rugby league players and compare these findings to previously published literature from Australia. Participants wer... Read More about Strength and power characteristics in English elite rugby league players.

An electromyographical comparison of trunk muscle activity during isometric trunk and dynamic strengthening exercises (2011)
Journal Article
Comfort, P., Pearson, S., & Mather, D. (2011). An electromyographical comparison of trunk muscle activity during isometric trunk and dynamic strengthening exercises. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(1), 149-154. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181fb412f

The purpose of this study was to compare rectus abdominis and erector spinae muscle activity during isometric (prone bridge [PB] and superman [SM]) and dynamic strengthening exercises (back squat, front squat [FS], and military press). Participants... Read More about An electromyographical comparison of trunk muscle activity during isometric trunk and dynamic strengthening exercises.

Complex training in ice hockey: the effects of a heavy resisted sprint on subsequent ice-hockey sprint performance (2010)
Journal Article
Matthews, M., Comfort, P., & Crebin, R. (2010). Complex training in ice hockey: the effects of a heavy resisted sprint on subsequent ice-hockey sprint performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(11), 2883-2887. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181e7253c

The aim of the study was to investigate the acute effect of a heavy resisted sprint when used as a preload exercise to enhance subsequent 25-m on-ice sprint performance. Eleven competitive ice-hockey players (mean 6 SD: Age = 22.09 6 3.05 years; Bo... Read More about Complex training in ice hockey: the effects of a heavy resisted sprint on subsequent ice-hockey sprint performance.

The acute effects of heavy and light resistances on the flight time of a basketball push-pass during upper body complex training (2009)
Journal Article
Matthews, M., O'Conchuir, C., & Comfort, P. (2009). The acute effects of heavy and light resistances on the flight time of a basketball push-pass during upper body complex training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23(7), 1988-1995. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b3e076

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of high-load and low-load complex training on upper-body performance—determined by the flight time of a basketball push-pass. Twelve competitive male athletes (21.8 6 4.5 years, 82.0 6 11.7 k... Read More about The acute effects of heavy and light resistances on the flight time of a basketball push-pass during upper body complex training.

Applying complex training principles to boxing: A practical approach (2008)
Journal Article
Matthews, M., & Comfort, P. (2008). Applying complex training principles to boxing: A practical approach. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 30(5), 12-15. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e318187d31b

This article discusses the application of complex training principles in the development of speed and power in boxing. In it, we illustrate how the addition of external resistance, applied in biomechanically similar ways to traditional boxing skills... Read More about Applying complex training principles to boxing: A practical approach.

Optimizing squat technique (2007)
Journal Article
Comfort, P., & Kasim, P. (2007). Optimizing squat technique. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 29(6), 10-13. https://doi.org/10.1519/00126548-200712000-00001

There are many variations of the squat technique, including stance width, foot positioning, and squat depth. However, research indicates that the optimal squat technique is a wide stance (≥ shoulder width) with natural foot positioning, unrestricted... Read More about Optimizing squat technique.

The affect of grip width on bench press performance and risk of injury (2007)
Journal Article
Green, C., & Comfort, P. (2007). The affect of grip width on bench press performance and risk of injury. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 29(5), 10-14. https://doi.org/10.1519/00126548-200710000-00001

Bodybuilders, athletes, and recreational lifters select a grip width during the bench press that they believe will produce a greater force output. Research has demonstrated that a wide grip (> 1.5 biacromial width) may increase the risk of shoulder i... Read More about The affect of grip width on bench press performance and risk of injury.

Lower limb stiffness: Considerations for female athletes
Journal Article
McMahon, J., Comfort, P., & Pearson, S. Lower limb stiffness: Considerations for female athletes. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 34(5), 70-73. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e318268131f

Women demonstrate lower limb stiffness recruitment strategies, which may predispose them to greater sustainment of lower limb injuries, particularly to the anterior cruciate ligament. To positively alter such strategies in women, lower limb muscle st... Read More about Lower limb stiffness: Considerations for female athletes.