Schwirian, C. I., Hagerman, F. C., Staron, R. S., Hagerman, G., Toma, K., Luecke, T., & Mannini, T. (1998). Muscular strength, muscular endurance, and aerobic capacity adaptations to resistance training using the sport cord. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30(5), Supplement abstract 940.

The effects of eight weeks of use of an elastic resistance device (The Sportcord) on muscular strength, muscular endurance, and aerobic capacity. Ss were of both genders (M = 10; F = 16). Ss did exercises to exhaustion 2 x week for the first five weeks and 3 x week for the last three weeks. A variety of tests were performed to assess changes.

Sportcord tests and exercises for both strength and muscular endurance improved significantly. However, there was no change in free-weight exercise performance indicating modality-specific training effects. There were no changes in VO2peak. Women did improve in maximum power.

Implication. Strength training effects are modality and capacity specific.

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