Objectives: Assessing effects of a training programme in a fast and non-invasive way is a must for most athletes to prevent over-training and injury, and to design the right programme for a particular athlete for optimum performance at the time of an event. The aim of this study was to test if Acoustic MyoGraphy (AMG) could be just such an assessment method.
Methods: As an example, a 15 year old BMX rider from a national team was followed over a 10 month period to see how his training programme affected his performance development and his nal ability. One of the most important muscles in cycling, m. Quadriceps, was assessed at baseline, one, two, 5 and 10 months thereafter with an AMG-recording CURO device, recording spatial (S-score), temporal (T-score) and ef ciency score (E-score).Muscle health was assessed with multi-frequency bio impedance at baseline and at the nish, 10 months later.
Results: A clear development of ef ciency in use of muscle bres was seen following training over the 10 month period, witha very rapid improvement in the T-score, and a slower improvement in the S-score and E-scores.
Conclusion: Our results show AMG to be a fast non-invasive method capable of following the effects of training on muscle performance, as well as being able to quantify improvements in actual physical performance in a speci c sports setting, giving the opportunity to follow the particular athlete and his potential for further training without causing injury. The method can be applied in most sports disciplines.