NSCA-CPSS flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Force-velocity relationship

As external load increases, concentric muscle shortening velocity decreases; peak mechanical power typically occurs at moderate loads rather than maximal or minimal loads.

Length-tension relationship

Active muscle force depends on sarcomere length; force is greatest near optimal overlap of actin and myosin, and declines when the muscle is over-shortened or over-stretched.

Size principle

Motor units are recruited in order of increasing threshold; low-threshold slow units fire first, and higher-threshold fast units are added as force demand rises.

Eccentric force capacity

Eccentric actions can generate greater force than concentric actions at the same velocity, producing higher mechanical stress and greater potential for muscle damage.

Cardiac output equation

Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume; it determines oxygen delivery and is a key determinant of aerobic performance capacity.

Type I versus Type II fibers

Type I fibers are oxidative and fatigue-resistant, while Type IIx fibers produce high power but fatigue quickly and can shift toward Type IIa with training.

Criterion validity

The degree to which a new measurement agrees with an established gold-standard method, such as comparing a jump device against a force plate.

Typical error of measurement

The standard deviation of repeated measurements in the same individual; it quantifies random measurement noise and should be reported in absolute units.

Smallest worthwhile change

The smallest change in a variable that is practically meaningful, often set at 0.2 times the between-athlete standard deviation; devices must detect it reliably.

Bland-Altman analysis

A method plotting the difference between two measurement methods against their mean to quantify systematic bias and limits of agreement.

Intraclass correlation coefficient

A reliability statistic describing the proportion of total variance attributable to true between-subject differences; values above 0.90 are often required for key performance variables.

Force plate sampling rate

The frequency at which force data are recorded; rates of at least 1000 Hz are typically needed to capture peak forces in jumps and landings.

Evidence hierarchy

A ranking of study designs by susceptibility to bias, from systematic reviews and randomized trials at the top to expert opinion at the bottom.

Effect size

A standardized measure of the magnitude of a difference or relationship, such as Cohen's d, reported alongside confidence intervals to indicate practical importance.

Statistical power

The probability of detecting a true effect when one exists; it depends on sample size, effect size, and alpha level, and underpowered studies produce unreliable results.

Preregistration

Publicly documenting hypotheses, outcomes, and analysis plans before data collection to reduce selective reporting and analytic flexibility that inflate false positives.

Internal validity

The extent to which a study's design supports causal inference by controlling confounders such as selection bias, attrition, and instrumentation drift.

External validity

The degree to which study findings generalize to other populations, settings, and conditions, such as applying untrained-subject results to elite athletes.

Needs analysis sequence

A structured process moving from sport demands and injury profiling to athlete assessment, gap identification, and prioritization of training targets.

Rate of force development

The slope of the force-time curve during early contraction; it reflects the ability to produce force quickly and is critical for explosive sport actions.

Injury surveillance data

Systematic records of injury incidence, severity, and mechanism used to identify priority targets for prevention programs within a sport.

Test selection criteria

Tests should be relevant to sport demands, valid, reliable, and practical; redundant tests that measure the same quality should be avoided.

Gap analysis

Comparing an athlete's current test profile against sport-specific targets to identify the largest deficits that should receive training priority.

Position-specific profiling

Assessing athletes against demands unique to their playing position rather than team averages, because physical requirements differ substantially within a sport.

Progressive overload

Systematically increasing training load, volume, density, or complexity over time to drive adaptation while avoiding simultaneous large increases in multiple variables.

Volume-load

A training stress metric calculated as sets multiplied by repetitions multiplied by load, used to compare and progress training across sessions and mesocycles.

Acute:chronic workload ratio

Acute load, typically a 7-day window, divided by a chronic rolling average such as 28 days; values outside roughly 0.8 to 1.3 are often flagged.

Block periodization

A model using sequential concentrated training blocks, each emphasizing a limited number of qualities, to manage fatigue and target specific adaptations.

Tapering

A planned reduction in training volume, typically 40 to 60 percent, while maintaining intensity and frequency for one to three weeks to peak performance.

Autoregulation

Adjusting daily training loads based on athlete readiness indicators such as perceived exertion or velocity loss thresholds rather than fixed percentages.

Translational gap

The distance between research findings and real-world application; bridging it requires adapting evidence to the specific athlete, sport, and training context.

Replication

Independent repetition of a study to confirm findings; replication reduces the risk of adopting spurious results into applied practice.