1059 3694 Board #141 June 3 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Comparison Between Unilateral and Bilateral Plyometric Training on Single and Double Leg Jumping Performance Gregory C. Bogdanis 1 , Olga Kaloheri 1 , Athanasios Tsoukos 1 , Gerasimos Terzis 1 , Panagiotis Veligekas 1 , Lee E. Brown, FACSM 2 . 1 National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 2 California State University, Fullerton, CA. Email: gbogdanis@phed.uoa.gr (No relationships reported) The phenomenon of bilateral deficit in jumping implies that greater muscle power can be developed when performing maximal single leg jumps, compared with two-leg jumps. Thus, it may be hypothesized that training with single leg plyometric exercises would be more effective compared to an equivalent volume of double leg plyometric training. PURPOSE: To compare the effects of unilateral and bilateral plyometric training on single and double leg jumping performance. METHODS: Fifteen moderately trained subjects (age: 19.6±2.1 yrs, height: 172±9 cm, body mass: 65.6±10.6 kg) were randomly assigned to either a unilateral (U, n=7) or a bilateral group (B, n=8). Both groups performed maximal effort plyometric leg exercises two times per week for 6 weeks (6 exercises per session, 3 sets of 10 repetitions per exercise), as well as 3 sets of knee extensions and flexions at 70%-90% of their 1 repetition maximum. The U group performed all plyometric and knee flexion/extension exercises with both legs, while the B group performed half the repetitions with each leg, so that the total exercise volume was the same. Jumping performance was assessed by double and single leg countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop jumps (DJ) from 30 cm, measured using an optical measurement system (Optojump). Reactive strength index (RSI) was calculated from DJ data (jump height and ground contact time). Results were analyzed using a 2 x 2 ANOVA with repeated measures in one factor and Tukey’s post-hoc test. RESULTS: CMJ with both legs significantly improved equally in the U and B groups by 12.1±7.2% and 11.0±5.5% (p<0.001), respectively. However, single-leg CMJ, quantified as the sum of dominant and non-dominant single leg CMJ, only improved in the U group (19.0±7.1%, p<0.001) and was unchanged in the B group (3.4±8.4%, p=0.80). Similarly, RSI for single leg only improved in the U group (from 0.95±0.21 to 1.17±0.25 m·s -1 , p=0.002), but not in the B group. CONCLUSIONS: Plyometric training with single leg exercises was more effective in increasing both single and double-leg jumping performance, compared to bilateral training. 3695 Board #142 June 3 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM An Integrated Perspective on Firefighter Recruit Academies: Examining the Sustainability of Fitness Gains Stacy L. Gnacinski, Kyle T. Ebersole, David J. Cornell, Barbara B. Meyer. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI. (Sponsor: Terry J. Housh, FACSM) Email: gnacins4@uwm.edu (No relationships reported) Research indicates that 16-week firefighter recruit academies yield pre-post program fitness gains. However, timelines of academy training protocols have been questioned, as the majority of fitness gains are observed after the first eight weeks of the program. Further, no research has examined the effect of recruit academies through an integrated lens, with physiological and psychological variables assessed concurrently. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of a firefighter recruit academy on measures of fitness and stress-recovery state. METHODS: Recruits enrolled in a Midwest region academy program (N = 15; 2 females; 29.0 ± 4.6 yrs; 181.7 ± 7.2 cm; 86.8 ± 11.5 kg) completed all measures at three time points throughout the 16-week academy: week 1 (T1), week 8 (T2), week 16 (T3). To assess fitness (i.e., muscular strength, estimated VO 2max , body fat percentage [%]), recruits completed handgrip dynamometry, Forestry Step Test, and skinfold measurements. To assess stress-recovery state, recruits completed a 52-item questionnaire on perceptions of stress and recovery (RESTQ-Sport). Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (RM MANOVA) tests were conducted to examine the effect of time on fitness (3 levels) and stress-recovery state (2 levels). An alpha of .05 was used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: The RM MANOVA test for the effect of time on fitness was significant (F 2,12 = 6.438, p = .013, λ = .482). Post hoc pairwise comparisons demonstrated a significant increase in fitness between T1 and T2 (p = .005), and a significant decrease in fitness between T2 and T3 (p = .020). In addition, the RM MANOVA test for the effect of time on stress-recovery state was not significant (F 2,12 = 1.884, p = .194, λ = .761). CONCLUSIONS: Results of the study indicate that current firefighter recruit academies may not generate sustainable fitness gains from onset to graduation. This conclusion is supported by the non-significant stress-recovery state results, as previous research has established a dose-response relationship between acute training load and stress- recovery state. Thus, the periodization of firefighter recruit academies may need careful examination to ensure a progressive physiological and psychological training stimulus is applied throughout the program to achieve sustainable outcomes. 3696 Board #143 June 3 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Relationship between Training Volume and Dietary Status in Triathletes A Preliminary Study Barbara S. McClanahan 1 , Christopher Vukadinovich 2 , Michelle Stockton 1 , Kenneth Ward 1 , Deborah Slawson 3 . 1 University of Memphis, Memphis, TN. 2 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN. 3 East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. (Sponsor: Lawrence Weiss, FACSM) Email: bmcclnhn@memphis.edu (No relationships reported) PURPOSE: Optimal sports training, especially for long endurance athletes, is dependent on favorable genetic, environmental and behavioral profiles. Dietary intake is central to and interacts with each of these domains. Therefore, the purpose of this preliminary study was to explore potential relationships between dietary intake and training volume in triathletes over a competitive season. METHODS: Participants were 18 male (36.6 ±10.7 years old) and 19 female triathletes (31.8 ±6.8 years old). Body fat percent, determined through dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, for male and female triathletes was 12.5% (±4.5%) and 21.3% (±5.0%) respectively. Training volume was determined by exercise duration and intensity over 24 weeks. Nutrient intake was assessed through a seven-day dietary recall. RESULTS: Average daily energy intake for males was 2776 (±774) kcals and 1987(±386) kcals for females. Relative contribution to total energy intake of fat was 25% for males and 28% for females, protein was 19% for males and 16% for females, and carbohydrates was 52% for males and 53% for females. For males, bivariate correlations revealed that total kcals (r = 0.81), protein (r = 0.86), and carbohydrates (r = 0.72) were significantly associated with total training volume. For females, only protein had a significant association (r = 0.62). Preliminary analyses using multiple linear regression indicated that for males the independent variables (kcals, protein, carbohydrates, fat) explained 79% of the variance in total training volume (p = .045) while controlling for age. However, none of the predictors were significant at a univariate level. The multiple regression for females indicated that the independent variables (kcals, protein, carbohydrates, fat) explained 82% of the variance in total training volume (p = .015) while controlling for age. Protein was the only significant predictor of total training volume for females (β = .860; t = 3.18; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high training volumes associated with triathlon training it is important to consider the potential relationships among energy and nutrient intake and training volume. Further studies are required to better understand the potential influence energy and nutrient intake may have on triathlete performance. Copyright © 2017 by the American College of Sports Medicine. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.