Abstract

CARVALHO, Carlos  and  CARVALHO, Alberto. One should not identify explosive strength with muscular power even if some connection can be found between them. Rev. Port. Cien. Desp. [online]. 2006, vol.6, n.2, pp.241-248. ISSN 1645-0523.

The aim of this paper is to search for the difference between explosive strength and muscular power. In spite of both being expressions of speed-strength, they depend on very different factors, have distinct characteristics and need specific and independent methods and methodologies. To sum it all up, it can be said that explosive strength training should be done with maximum loads and the maximum rate of velocity of muscular contraction so that a sufficient nervous activation can be achieved in the intramuscular factors (recruitment, firing frequency and synchronism of nervous stimulus). Contrarily to this, power should be trained with medium loads but with high speed of execution of any specific motor action and/or sequences, therefore falling on a more technical or coordinative training. We can deduce from all this that these two expressions of speed-strength should not be identified as synonyms of the same physical abilities.

Keywords : explosive strength; muscular power; strength training.

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