Push Blog The Intended VS Actual Movement Velocity Debate: What Actually Drives Velocity-Specific Training Adaptations?

The development of speed and power are desirable adaptations for a variety of athletes. For inexperienced trainees, it’s been suggested that general strength training alone may be adequate to improve high-velocity specific training adaptations (32,38) (e.g. improving maximum squat strength transfers to improved vertical jump performance). As athletes become generally “stronger”, it’s been noted that they typically require increased training specificity to attain targeted adaptations (19) (e.g. improving maximum squat strength may not transfer to improved vertical jump performance). However, there is a debate that exists for high-velocity adaptations as to whether the intent or the movement velocity must actually be specific in order to maximize adaptations from training.