Correlation of muscle strength with weightlifting performance in CrossFit® practitioners

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to analyze and correlate muscle strength of the back and front squat with performance in the movements of weightlifting snatch and the clean in CrossFit® practitioners.

Method

Twenty‐two adults participated in this study and were divided according to their performance in the snatch and clean movements: stronger (29.6 ± 4.4 years; 80.95 ± 9.57 kg; 12.2 ± 5.8% body fat; 2.4 ± 0.9 training experience) and weaker (28.5 ± 5.4 years; 79.4 ± 6.8 kg; 13.6 ± 3.5% body fat; 2.0 ± 1.1 training experience). All volunteers completed one‐repetition maximum tests, in separate days, in the following exercises: back squat, front squat, snatch and the first phase of the clean.

Results

The volunteers classified with a superior performance in the snatch and clean presented a higher strength in the back squat (154.9 ± 20.3 kg vs 132.7 ± 11.6 kg; p = 0.009) and front squat (139.0 ± 14.5 kg vs 116.8 ± 11.3 kg; p = 0.002) as compared with the weaker volunteers. Additionally, there were strong correlations between relative strength in the back squat (r = 0.83; r = 0.76; p = 0.001) and front squat (r = 0.73; r = 0.83; p = 0.001) with the performance in the snatch and clean exercises, respectively.

Conclusions

Therefore, a superior strength in basic exercises, such as back and front squat can contribute to weightlifting performance in CrossFit® practitioners.