Misuse of "power" and other mechanical terms in sport and exercise science research

Winter, Edward M.; Abt, Grant; Brookes, F. B. Carl; Challis, John H.; Fowler, Neil E.; Knudson, Duane V.; Knuttgen, Howard G.; Kraemer, William J.; Lane, Andrew M.; Van Mechelen, Willem; Morton, R. Hugh; Newton, Robert U.; Williams, Clyde; Winter, Edward; Yeadon, M. R.

doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000001101

Misuse of "power" and other mechanical terms in sport and exercise science research

Winter, Edward M.; Abt, Grant; Brookes, F. B. Carl; Challis, John H.; Fowler, Neil E.; Knudson, Duane V.; Knuttgen, Howard G.; Kraemer, William J.; Lane, Andrew M.; Van Mechelen, Willem; Morton, R. Hugh; Newton, Robert U.; Williams, Clyde; Winter, Edward; Yeadon, M. R.

Authors

Edward M. Winter

Professor Grant Abt G.Abt@hull.ac.uk
Professor of Exercise Physiology

F. B. Carl Brookes

John H. Challis

Neil E. Fowler

Duane V. Knudson

Howard G. Knuttgen

William J. Kraemer

Andrew M. Lane

Willem Van Mechelen

R. Hugh Morton

Robert U. Newton

Clyde Williams

Edward Winter

M. R. Yeadon

Abstract

© 2015 National Strength and Conditioning Association. Despite the Système International d'Unitès (SI) that was published in 1960, there continues to be widespread misuse of the terms and nomenclature of mechanics in descriptions of exercise performance. Misuse applies principally to failure to distinguish between mass and weight, velocity and speed, and especially the terms "work" and "power." These terms are incorrectly applied across the spectrum from high-intensity short-duration to long-duration endurance exercise. This review identifies these misapplications and proposes solutions. Solutions include adoption of the term "intensity" in descriptions and categorizations of challenge imposed on an individual as they perform exercise, followed by correct use of SI terms and units appropriate to the specific kind of exercise performed. Such adoption must occur by authors and reviewers of sport and exercise research reports to satisfy the principles and practices of science and for the field to advance.

Citation

Winter, E. M., Abt, G., Brookes, F. B. C., Challis, J. H., Fowler, N. E., Knudson, D. V., …Yeadon, M. R. (2016). Misuse of "power" and other mechanical terms in sport and exercise science research. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 30(1), 292-300. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001101

Journal Article Type	Review
Publication Date	Jan 1, 2016
Deposit Date	Oct 5, 2015
Publicly Available Date	Oct 27, 2022
Journal	Journal of strength and conditioning research
Print ISSN	1064-8011
Electronic ISSN	1533-4295
Publisher	Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	30
Issue	1
Pages	292-300
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001101
Keywords	Nomenclature, Mechanics constructs, SI
Public URL	https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/379470
Publisher URL	https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00124278-201601000-00034
Additional Information	Authors' accepted manuscript of article published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research, 2016, v.30, issue 1.