STRENGTH AS THE MOST IMPORTANT BASIC PHYSICAL CAPACITY

In the previous publication we talked about basic physical abilities, defining each of them and explaining their role in sports physical activity. Concluding that our blog would be oriented in the basic physical capacity of strength, more concretely, in the strength oriented in the scope of the healthy physical activity.

Fitness Gym Workout Weight Strength Training by ThoroughlyReviewed CC by 2.0

Once the basic physical capacities have been defined (endurance, speed, flexibility and strength), we would like to confirm the importance of strength above all others.

To do so, we will begin by stating a phrase from the extraordinary physical trainer Julio Tous, trainer of such important teams as Juventus F.C or Chelsea F.C, who also collaborates with other world-famous sportsmen such as Rafael Nadal, who says: "Strength is the only basic physical quality, only from which others can express themselves" (Tous, 2007). This conclusion is reached after a long process of research, both scientific and empirical, in addition to various discussions with countless experts in the field, and after a long process of reflection. He explains it in the following way:

In relation to endurance, defined as the ability to "maintain an effort without diminishing the intensity of work" or as the ability to "recover quickly after physical or psychic effort" (Zintl 1991), it is defined as the "time that an athlete is able to maintain a certain level of strength" (Tous, 2007), that is, the higher levels of muscle strength present in the subject, the longer he or she will be able to maintain that strength, and the greater the ability to recover from the different stimuli.

When it refers to speed, defined as "The complex capacity, derived from a set of functional properties (strength and coordination) that makes it possible to regulate the activation of the athlete's cognitive and functional processes according to existing time parameters, in order to provoke an optimal motor response" (Jorge Vizuete, 2004), in the same definition given by Jorge Vizuete the importance of strength is already denoted, being able to really define this capacity as the "Time needed to reach the different levels of strength". This determination was previously supported by Badillo and Ribas Serna in 2002, which indicate that (explosive) force is directly determined by the relationship between the applied force and the time needed for it, expressed in N - S-1 (Badillo & Serna, 2002).

Finally, it indicates that both flexibility and coordination (it relates both within the same concept) are nothing more than "facilitating" elements that will allow the type of strength needed at each moment or action to be expressed in an optimal way (Tous, 2007).

The following scheme, used by Tous himself, summarises the previously mentioned points:

Adapted from:  Proposal for structuring physicalcharacteristics around muscular force as a fundamental physical capacity (Tous,J., 2007).

All this is also supported by the vision of Dir. Gerard Moras, who tells us that the only physical capacity that exists is that of "generating movement through muscular contractions" (Moras, 2013).

Thus, for all that has been exposed up to now, we will continue in the following publications talking about the, in our opinion, the only basic physical capacity, disseminating the information we have at our disposal about how to work it and its benefits at the level of physical activity for health.

See you in the next post.

May the force be with you!

REFERENCES

Jorge Vizuete, J. (2004). Máster profesional en alto rendimiento. Deportes de equipo.

Zintl, F. (1991). Entrenamiento de la resistencia : fundamentos, métodos y dirección del entrenamiento. Ediciones Martínez Roca.

Badillo, J. J. G., & Serna, J. R. (2002). Bases de la programación del entrenamiento de fuerza.

Moras, G. (2013). Máster profesional en alto rendimiento. Deportes colectivos.

Tous, J. (2007). Máster profesional en alto rendimiento. Deportes de equipo.