The Effect of Block Versus Daily Undulating Periodization on Strength and Performance in Adolescent Football Players
Abstract
Purpose: Muscle mass, strength, and power are important factors for performance. To improve these characteristics, periodized resistance training is used. However, there is no consensus regarding the most effective periodization model. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of block (BLOCK) vs daily undulating periodization (DUP) on body composition, hypertrophy, strength, performance, and power in adolescent American football players. Methods: A total of 47 subjects participated in this study (mean [SD] age = 17 [0.8] y, strength training experience = 0.93 [0.99] y). Premeasurements and postmeasurements consisted of body mass (BM); fat mass; relative fat mass; fat-free mass (FFM); muscle mass (MM); muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), and triceps brachii (TB); 1-repetition-maximum back squat (BS) and bench press (BP); countermovement jump (CMJ); estimated peak power (Wpeak) from vertical jump performance; medicine-ball put (MBP); and 40-yd sprint. Subjects were randomly assigned in either the BLOCK or DUP group prior to the 12-wk intervention period consisting of 3 full-body sessions per week. Results: Both groups displayed significantly higher BM (P < .001), FFM (P < .001), MM (P < .001), RF (P < .001), VL (P < .001), TB (P < .001), BS (P < .001), BP (P < .001), CMJ (P < .001), Wpeak (P < .001), and MBP (P < .001) and significantly lower sprint times (P < .001) after 12 wk of resistance training, with no difference between groups. Conclusions: Resistance training was effective to increase muscle mass, strength, power, and performance in adolescent athletes. BLOCK and DUP affect anthropometric measures and physical performance equally.
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The BIA 101 Akern is a valid and reliable alternative to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for the assessment of body composition.
“The BIA 101 Akern is a valid and reliable alternative to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for the assessment of body composition and has been used in various other studies [7,52–54].”
From How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training study (2025) · cites this paper as [54]
When compared with similar muscle thickness measurements by Gavanda et al. [54] over a 12-week period, the absolute increases in M. rectus femoris and M. vastus lateralis thickness are similar.
“When compared with similar muscle thickness measurements by Gavanda et al. [54] over a 12-week period, the absolute increases in M. rectus femoris (Block: 0.11 cm; DUP: 0.20 cm) and M. vastus lateralis (Block: 0.13 cm; DUP: 0.10 cm) thickness are similar.”
From How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training study (2025) · cites this paper as [54]
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References 39 · Cited by 34
- Authors
- Gavanda, S., Geisler, S., Quittmann, O. J., & Schiffer, T.
- Venue
- International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
- Publisher
- Human Kinetics
- Published
- 2019-07-01
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 814-821
- ISSN
- 1555-0265 (ISSN-L)
- 1555-0273
- OpenAlex
- W2906434300
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 2.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Physical Education and Training Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Keywords
- block periodization, resistance training, youth athletes, American football players, muscle hypertrophy, muscle strength, power, body composition, sprint performance, countermovement jump, medicine ball put, back squat, bench press
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Body Composition, Football, Humans, Male, Periodicity, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Strength, Athletic Performance, Resistance Training
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