Less Is More: The Physiological Basis for Tapering in Endurance, Strength, and Power Athletes
Taper, or reduced-volume training, improves competition performance across a broad spectrum of exercise modes and populations. This article aims to highlight the physiological mechanisms, namely in skeletal muscle, by which taper improves performance and provide a practical literature-based rational...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2015-08-01
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| Series: | Sports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/3/3/209 |
| _version_ | 1828353019996012544 |
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| author | Kevin A. Murach James R. Bagley |
| author_facet | Kevin A. Murach James R. Bagley |
| author_sort | Kevin A. Murach |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Taper, or reduced-volume training, improves competition performance across a broad spectrum of exercise modes and populations. This article aims to highlight the physiological mechanisms, namely in skeletal muscle, by which taper improves performance and provide a practical literature-based rationale for implementing taper in varied athletic disciplines. Special attention will be paid to strength- and power-oriented athletes as taper is under-studied and often overlooked in these populations. Tapering can best be summarized by the adage “less is more” because maintained intensity and reduced volume prior to competition yields significant performance benefits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:02:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa1fb05250c54166b25dda4271b64ed1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4663 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:02:45Z |
| publishDate | 2015-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sports |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa1fb05250c54166b25dda4271b64ed12022-12-22T02:18:48ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632015-08-013320921810.3390/sports3030209sports3030209Less Is More: The Physiological Basis for Tapering in Endurance, Strength, and Power AthletesKevin A. Murach0James R. Bagley1Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Sciences and Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, MS-508 Chandler Medical Center, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40508, USADepartment of Kinesiology, College of Health and Social Sciences, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue-Gym 101, San Francisco, CA 94132, USATaper, or reduced-volume training, improves competition performance across a broad spectrum of exercise modes and populations. This article aims to highlight the physiological mechanisms, namely in skeletal muscle, by which taper improves performance and provide a practical literature-based rationale for implementing taper in varied athletic disciplines. Special attention will be paid to strength- and power-oriented athletes as taper is under-studied and often overlooked in these populations. Tapering can best be summarized by the adage “less is more” because maintained intensity and reduced volume prior to competition yields significant performance benefits.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/3/3/209taperreduced-volume trainingperiodizationskeletal musclefiber type |
| spellingShingle | Kevin A. Murach James R. Bagley Less Is More: The Physiological Basis for Tapering in Endurance, Strength, and Power Athletes Sports taper reduced-volume training periodization skeletal muscle fiber type |
| title | Less Is More: The Physiological Basis for Tapering in Endurance, Strength, and Power Athletes |
| title_full | Less Is More: The Physiological Basis for Tapering in Endurance, Strength, and Power Athletes |
| title_fullStr | Less Is More: The Physiological Basis for Tapering in Endurance, Strength, and Power Athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Less Is More: The Physiological Basis for Tapering in Endurance, Strength, and Power Athletes |
| title_short | Less Is More: The Physiological Basis for Tapering in Endurance, Strength, and Power Athletes |
| title_sort | less is more the physiological basis for tapering in endurance strength and power athletes |
| topic | taper reduced-volume training periodization skeletal muscle fiber type |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/3/3/209 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kevinamurach lessismorethephysiologicalbasisfortaperinginendurancestrengthandpowerathletes AT jamesrbagley lessismorethephysiologicalbasisfortaperinginendurancestrengthandpowerathletes |