Differential effects of ballistic versus sensorimotor training on rate of force development and neural activation in humans

S.C. Beck, and A. Gollhofer. Differential effects of ballistic ver-sus sensorimotor training on rate of force development and neu-ral activation in humans. J. Strength Cond. Res. 21(1):274-282. 2007.-Balancing exercises on instable bases (sensorimotor training [SMT)) are often used in the rehabilitation process of an injured athlete to restore joint function. Recently it was shown that SMT was able to enhance rate of force development (RFD) in a maximal voluntary muscle contraction. The purpose of this study was to compare adaptations on strength capacity following ballistic strength training (BST) with those following an SMT during a training period of 1 microeycle (4 weeks). Max-imum voluntary isometric strength (MVC), maximum RFD (RFDmax) and the corresponding neural activation of M. soleus (SOL), M. gastrocnemius (GAS), and M. tibialis anterior (TIB) were measured during plantar flexion in 33 healthy subjects