The System
With each Mode, The Hyper Stride invites a series of exercises in both grounded and standing positions. The total training effect of utilizing all 4 Modes results in a system that benefits long term athletic and fitness development. Adjustment between the Modes is effortless, taking less than 10 seconds to go through all 4 Modes. Below is a detailed breakdown, setup instructions and the exercises each platform invites.
The Hyper Stride Training System revolves around its core exercises that engage global muscle chains. An individuals combined ability to perform these exercises highlights their overall “Movement Skill”, a profile that can be used to make insightful programming decisions and long term development. The system is anchored by the following principles of human locomotion:
Proximal Control (X-Axis)
Medial Control (Y-Axis)
Gyroscopic Control (Z-Axis)
Strength Impulse (Vertical Thrusting and Pulling)
Wheels on
Wheels off
Board On
BoardOFF
Wheels on | board on
Flexion Curl (Roll-outs)
1. Activate the lats and obliques for core performance
2. Improve over-head mechanics in classic strength training
3. Reduce over-extension of low back muscles
The importance of the obliques, specifically for the rotational athlete cannot be understated. Proximal stability has been repeatedly demonstrated to increase rotational velocity, thus the positive acceleration of implements in sport.
The Lateral Stride
1. Activate adductors, glutes and hamstrings
2. Improve ground force in throwing, striking and take-offs
3. Reduce lateral drifting for optimal power production
Together, The Flexion Curl and Lateral Stride trigger the “intra-abdominal response”, unlocking greater potential to demonstrate coordinated skills, or sports related performance. In other words, Mode 1 can be used to improve an athlete’s ability to manage pressure from the ground, and convert that pressure into power.
“Study A” compared a similar wheeled device against 14 other popular methods of core training, including 10 other devices. The results are conclusive and consistent across multiple studies, in favor of those devices which involve the prone kneeling, shoulder flexed position.
The prone- flexed position not only engages the obliques to a more substantial degree, but also limits the involvement of undesirable muscle groups such as the erector (Lumbar) group. Due to the overhead nature of the exercise, the pressure- producing phenomenon known as the Intra-Abdominal response is triggered.
This data may suggest that the “performance specific” muscle groups behave more efficiently with a multi-segment, synergistic approach. In this case, the knee-hip-spine and shoulder segments contribute to displacement and stability of the exercise.
Study “B” observed the importance of oblique activation in regards to the kinematic sequence for the baseball thrower. Regardless of the athlete’s individual delivery style (more or less rotational) the strength of the obliques has a strong correlation to the rotational velocity generated by the body and thus, the ball.
This chart highlights the clear correlation between arm-side (and glove side) oblique strength and rotational velocity all the way up the kinetic chain.
wheels off | board on
Pivot Series
1. Activate the spiral line (obliques, glutes and pec)
2. Improve dynamic awareness and testing protocols*
3. Reduce mechanical errors associated with rotation
The Pivot Series offers the opportunity not only to load rotational exercises but more importantly to gain insight as to the athlete’s unique structure. Systematically testing/screening for movement limitations (and preferences) is a practice that dates back to the early days of science based strength training.
Multiple studies have indicated positive correlations between movement profiles and sports specific mechanics, such as the golf and baseball/softball swing.
Specifically, exercises in MODE 2 can help identify movement capacity in the hips and shoulders, which suggests how reasonable certain mechanical adjustments can be in a skill specific setting.
Additionally, this data can be used to explain why a mechanical “flaw” exists in the first place. It is at the athlete and coaches discretion to treat a sport specific condition as a flaw, or unique preference accordingly. No two athletes are the same, and The Hyper Stride System helps to quantify that difference.
wheels on | board off
The Extension Curl (Glute-Ham Bridge)
1. Activate hamstrings, glutes and calf
2. Improve hinge mechanics in classic strength training
3. Reduce mechanical errors in jumping such as valgus collapse
Linear Stride
1. Activate Hip flexors, psaos
2. Improve sprint cycles (ground contact and flight times)
3. Reduce mechanical errors in the Sagital plane
The Bridge and Stride in Mode 3 challenges the athletes medial and proximal control, specifically on a single leg. Due to the primarily uni-lateral nature of many sports and athletic actions (walking, running, bounding ect). Mode 3 can be considered to have a higher degree of training specificity.
This chart details a study which demonstrates how low-friction exercises can be implemented before and after sports and training to increase performance AND recovery.
The benefit of the Hyper Stride’s wheeled design is demonstrated in this direct comparison of muscle activation between a regular squat and the slide-method.
Without having to overcome drag, the athlete safely leverages their own body weight against gravity- redirecting the work to the muscles. The athlete can explore and adjust exercises with variable tempos (fast, slow, pause ect.). Thus, training sets can last longer by reducing unnecessary energy loss due to inertia (sheer stress). Athletes and coaches can exploit this training benefit to implement the “pre-fatigue method” which has been proven to increase adaptation during strength training and recovery from sports.
wheels off | board off
Static Pulls
1. Activate co-contraction for force impulse
2. Improve maximal strength and coordination in strength training
3. Reduce exercise induced fatigue and inflammation
The internal capacity to generate maximal force is a strength-based skill that regulates and potentiates the athletes ability to display various abilities during competition. The Mode 4 platform places the athlete in a static training environment, otherwise known as Isometrics.
Specifically OVERCOMING ISOMETRICS, have been studied and implemented for decades as a means to measure internal loading capacity- a demonstration of ABSOLUTE STRENGTH.
3 primary methods can be applied when using MODE 4:
Impulse Pulls (time limited)
Peak Force Pulls (3-5 seconds)
Endurance Pulls (sustained effort for time)
The exercises unique ability to potentiate, or acutely improve preceding sports actions like jumping, running and throwing.
To understand ISOMETRICS for sports specific applications, see this chart which defines the Explosive Strength Deficit (see chart).
Additionally, measurements in MODE 4 can be used for selecting external (training) loads to improve transfer for athletes. For example, Absolute Strength can be used to program the loads used in weighted jumps, or even the height of depth jumps during pliometric training.
References
-
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC385260/
https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/doi/10.4085/1062-6050-0195.24/503811
-
https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/fulltext/2016/06000/the_sliding_leg_curl.14.aspx
-
https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jsr/32/6/article-p674.xml
https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/fulltext/2016/06000/the_sliding_leg_curl.14.aspx
-
https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/fulltext/2014/02000/Correlation_of_Titleist_Performance_Institute.29.aspx/1000
-
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1876448&dswid=6738
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/4/212