MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

The Most Effective Protein To Rebuild Muscle Lost During Injury

The Most Effective Protein To Rebuild Muscle Lost During Injury

Struggling To Pack On Muscle? This May Be Why

Struggling To Pack On Muscle? This May Be Why

Scientist Have Accidentally Developed A Drug That Prevents Weight Gain

Scientist Have Accidentally Developed A Drug That Prevents Weight Gain

WTF! Your Brain Will Start To Eat Itself If Without Enough Sleep

WTF! Your Brain Will Start To Eat Itself If Without Enough Sleep

{headline}

{headline}

Feeling Low? Sleep Could Be The Best Medicine

Feeling Low? Sleep Could Be The Best Medicine

Science Confirms That Man Flu Is Real

Science Confirms That Man Flu Is Real

5 Lifting Rules You Should Break If You Want To Get Big

5 Lifting Rules You Should Break If You Want To Get Big

{headline}

{headline}

3 Different Sneakers Every Man Needs In His Gym Kit

3 Different Sneakers Every Man Needs In His Gym Kit

Shaking Hands At Work? You're Probably Touching Poo

Shaking Hands At Work? You're Probably Touching Poo

Slice Your Cancer Risk With Stuffed Crust Pizza

Slice Your Cancer Risk With Stuffed Crust Pizza

Why Do Some Blokes Never Age? Scientists Have Figured It Out

Why Do Some Blokes Never Age? Scientists Have Figured It Out

Can You Burn Calories Just By Thinking Really, REALLY Hard?

Can You Burn Calories Just By Thinking Really, REALLY Hard?

You Can Mimic A Cardio Workout... Without Doing Anything At All

You Can Mimic A Cardio Workout... Without Doing Anything At All

What You Wear To Bed Can Drastically Impact Your Sex Life

What You Wear To Bed Can Drastically Impact Your Sex Life

  1. Home
  2. News

Scientists Have Discovered The Secret To Becoming An Elite Weightlifter

A study of Chinese athletes has unlocked what it takes, and it's surprisingly simple - by Scott Henderson
  • 11 Jul 2018
Scientists Have Discovered The Secret To Becoming An Elite Weightlifter
Instagram/marcusfilly

Have you ever noticed that there’s an enourmous gap between great athletes, and elite athletes? Well Chinese researchers from Ningbo University certainly have, and when researching the difference between us regular Joes and our elite idols the found one critical difference; knee strength.

"These results can provide valuable information for lower level lifters and coaches to achieve better competition performance by altering their training methods accordingly," said the study's corresponding author Yaodong Gu, PhD.

To make the discovery, researchers analysed performance on the Olympic snatch, a move that involves ripping a barbell off the floor, bringing it overhead in a squat position, and extending upwards with the barbell remaining raised.

"Coaches of sub-elite lifters should focus on exercises suitable to the strength characteristics of the first and third phases of snatch lift," Dr. Gu said.

In the report published in the journal Heliyon, results were analysed relating to the vertical height reached by the barbell during the lift in relation to the actual athlete’s height. Other aspects of note were increased vertical velocity (ie. how fast the bar was moved overhead and lifted to the final position), and the vertical acceleration of the bar.

According to the Chinese team behind the study, it is both of these factors that make a lifter ‘elite'.

The results of the study showed also an increased angular velocity within the knee joint between elite and ‘sub-elite’ athletes, demonstrating the importance of the knee joint in the lift. It’s seemingly the ability to strengthen the knee flexor muscles that separates the boys from the men, according to the study.

The additional findings suggest that sub-elite lifters should work on strengthening the flexor muscles of their knee joints, making it possible for them to generate and use more elastic energy in the second phase of a lift.

It’s reported that the findings have already filtered their way through to China’s coaching program.

So now that you’re armed with this information, looks like a ‘knee day’ is in order for your training schedule with specific movements to boost that strength.

Try this quick fix from elite strength coach Bill Hartman to help keep your knees up into your dotage.

THE TEST

Balance on one foot and, keeping it flat, lower yourself down. If your knee moves inside your big toe, you have tight groin muscles and weak glutes. Here’s your cod liver oil-free prescription . . .

STRETCH YOUR ADDUCTORS 

Lower into a side lunge until you feel a groin stretch. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on both sides.

WORK YOUR GLUTEUS MEDIUS

Put a Unit Nine medium strength resistance band around your legs. Take 10 side steps to the right, then to the left. Do six sets each side.

TARGET EACH LEG

Keep your kneecap in line with your big toe during single-leg exercises, such as lunges.

  • News
  • Fitness
  • Exercise
  • Strength Training
  • Leg Workouts
Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson
Scott is the Editor of Men's Health Australia, where he oversees all editorial content of the country's largest men’s magazine. As a fitness addict, adventure sport lover, and passionate story-teller, Henderson is committed to living the Men’s Health brand.

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

The Most Effective Protein To Rebuild Muscle Lost During Injury

The Most Effective Protein To Rebuild Muscle Lost During Injury

Struggling To Pack On Muscle? This May Be Why

Struggling To Pack On Muscle? This May Be Why

Scientist Have Accidentally Developed A Drug That Prevents Weight Gain

Scientist Have Accidentally Developed A Drug That Prevents Weight Gain

WTF! Your Brain Will Start To Eat Itself If Without Enough Sleep

WTF! Your Brain Will Start To Eat Itself If Without Enough Sleep

{headline}

{headline}

Feeling Low? Sleep Could Be The Best Medicine

Feeling Low? Sleep Could Be The Best Medicine

Science Confirms That Man Flu Is Real

Science Confirms That Man Flu Is Real

5 Lifting Rules You Should Break If You Want To Get Big

5 Lifting Rules You Should Break If You Want To Get Big

{headline}

{headline}

3 Different Sneakers Every Man Needs In His Gym Kit

3 Different Sneakers Every Man Needs In His Gym Kit

Shaking Hands At Work? You're Probably Touching Poo

Shaking Hands At Work? You're Probably Touching Poo

Slice Your Cancer Risk With Stuffed Crust Pizza

Slice Your Cancer Risk With Stuffed Crust Pizza

Why Do Some Blokes Never Age? Scientists Have Figured It Out

Why Do Some Blokes Never Age? Scientists Have Figured It Out

Can You Burn Calories Just By Thinking Really, REALLY Hard?

Can You Burn Calories Just By Thinking Really, REALLY Hard?

You Can Mimic A Cardio Workout... Without Doing Anything At All

You Can Mimic A Cardio Workout... Without Doing Anything At All

What You Wear To Bed Can Drastically Impact Your Sex Life

What You Wear To Bed Can Drastically Impact Your Sex Life

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe to Digital
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe to Digital
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now