125. Improving Rate of Force Development w/ Danny Larson
Dec 5, 2023
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Physical therapist and researcher Danny Larson discusses strategies to improve Rate of Force Development, emphasizing the importance of quick force production in training and rehabilitation. The conversation covers sample treatment sessions for athletes post ACLR and older adults, programming considerations, and progressing RFD exercises with physics principles.
Training RFD enhances force production for real-world tasks like jumping and fall prevention.
Emphasizing fast and explosive movements improves neural factors contributing to RFD.
Integrating eccentric and isometric training is key to enhancing RFD in rehabilitation.
Deep dives
Understanding Rate of Force Development and Its Importance
Rate of force development (RFD) refers to the ability to produce force quickly, which is crucial in various activities like jumping, sprinting, and fall prevention. The podcast episode emphasizes the significance of training RFD and discusses strategies for enhancing it. The importance lies in the time constraints present in real-world tasks that require rapid force production. Understanding RFD helps individuals operate efficiently within these time constraints.
Incorporating Intent for Improving RFD
Implementing an intentional focus on fast and explosive movements is key to enhancing RFD. By cueing individuals to perform movements as quickly as possible, like in squats with explosive upward movements or drop squats with rapid descents, the neural factors contributing to RFD, such as motor unit firing rate and synchronicity, are emphasized. The concept of intent in movement execution serves as a starting point for improving RFD across various exercises and activities.
Considerations for Eccentric and Isometric Training for RFD
Eccentric and isometric training play critical roles in improving RFD, especially in tasks involving catching oneself from a fall or quick movements. Implementing eccentric actions like drop squats with fast descents and controlling terminations or isometric exercises on machines or with body weight can enhance RFD effectively. Understanding the significance of these training modalities, even in upper extremity exercises like the ASH test, helps in progressing RFD and designing a comprehensive training program.
The Importance of Impulse in Rehabilitation
In rehabilitation, understanding the concept of impulse is crucial. Impulse, which involves applying force over a given time, plays a significant role in tasks like drop squats and drop lands. By increasing momentum through tasks like dropping off a box, individuals can experience higher demand and velocity, requiring a higher impulse for stopping. Proficiency in movements like drop squats indicates a consistent stopping time, with higher force indicating higher momentum.
Enhancing Force Development in Rehab
Improving force development in rehabilitation involves focusing on tasks that are neuromuscularly taxing. Eccentric RFD tasks like drop lands and concentric movements like bench to box jumps can enhance explosiveness. Transitioning into strength-focused exercises with explosive cues, such as trap bar deadlifts and leg presses, maintains the intent for fast, hard efforts. External cueing for force output and strength improvements is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of considering strength enhancements alongside RFD development.
Chris sat down with Danny Larson to discuss all things Rate of Force Development. We dive into: the importance of training rate of force development, strategies to improve RFD and the easiest entry points, when to progress, and sample treatment sessions for a young athlete status post ACLR and an older adult with a high fall risk. Danny is a physical therapist, athletic trainer, sports residency coordinator, and researcher based out of Lawrence, Kansas.