Perception of barbell velocity: can individuals accurately perceive changes in velocity?

Matthew Shaw, Stephen Thompson, Per Aslak Myranuet, Håvard Tonheim, Johnny Nielsen, James Steele

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate whether resistance-trained participants can accurately predict changes in barbell velocity, specifically in the deadlift exercise, without feedback from velocity based training (VBT) devices. Seventeen participants (16 male, 1 female; age = 24.7 ± 3.8) were randomized in a counterbalanced, crossover design two experimental sessions that consisted of three sets of Deadlift at 60-and-80% one-repetition maximum (1RM). The number of repetitions were determined by the participants as they were asked to terminate each set when they felt the barbell velocity had reduced by 20%, relative to repetition one. A binomial mixed effects regression model was used to assess the accuracy of participants ability to stop after reaching at least 20% velocity loss. Participants tended to underestimate their proximity to 20% velocity loss and thus had relatively low probability of correctly stopping after reaching this threshold. There was only a 10.49% probability that people could perceive at least 20% velocity loss greater than chance (i.e., 50% probability). Our data, suggests that most participants cannot accurately perceive changes in velocity without exposure to augmented feedback.    
Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Strength and Conditioning
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jan 2023

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