Abstract
Taper, or reduced-volume training, improves competition performance across a broad spectrum of exercise modes and populations. This article aims to highlight the physiological mechanisms, namely in skeletal muscle, by which taper improves performance and provide a practical literature-based rationale for implementing taper in varied athletic disciplines. Special attention will be paid to strength- and power-oriented athletes as taper is under-studied and often overlooked in these populations. Tapering can best be summarized by the adage “less is more” because maintained intensity and reduced volume prior to competition yields significant performance benefits.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-2015
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/sports3030209
Repository Citation
Murach, Kevin A. and Bagley, James R., "Less Is More: The Physiological Basis for Tapering in Endurance, Strength, and Power Athletes" (2015). Physical Therapy Faculty Publications. 61.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/rehabsci_facpub/61
Notes/Citation Information
Published in Sports, v. 3, no. 3, p. 209-218.
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).