The Applied Sport Science and Medicine of Powerlifting and Para Powerlifting: A Systematic Scoping Review with Recommendations for Future Research
Study Details
This new review compiled all the available sports science data (218 studies) on powerlifting and para powerlifting 📚
Here are the key findings ⬇️
Key Findings
General Characteristics 📊
📈 Research doubled since 2020, but women (3%) and para athletes remain under-studied
🌍 USA leads in publications, Brazil leads in para powerlifting
Biomechanics 🏋️♂️
🦵 Squat stance and technique affect muscle activation and joint load
💪 Bench press “sticking point” confirmed; body size predicts 1RM
🦴 Deadlift places heavy lumbar loads; sumo reduces shear
🧑🦽 Para studies show grip, tempo, and tethering influence performance
Training 📅
📋 Common strategies include tapering, bands, and chains
⚡ Acute effects: warm-ups, recovery methods, variable resistance
⏳ Chronic effects: periodisation, cluster sets, and blood-flow restriction improve strength
🧑🦽 Para research mostly short-term; limited long-term data
Competition 🏆
🎯 Heavy openers and more successful lifts predict winning
📈 Optimal frequency: ~4 comps/year (21 - 31 weeks apart for para athletes)
⚖️ Sex, weight, and equipment impact outcomes; formulas used for fairness
Physical Qualities 💪
📏 Strength linked to chest circumference, lean mass, and fascicle length
🏃 Powerlifters show strong grip and trunk strength but reduced flexibility
🚺 Urinary incontinence common in women; improved with pelvic floor training
🧑🦽 Very limited para data
Injury 🤕
📉 Rate: 1 - 4.4 injuries per 1000 hours
🚑 Shoulder, back, and knee most affected
🧑🦽 Para lifters face higher overuse injuries (esp. shoulder/tendon)
Psychology 🧠
🎯 Anxiety, attentional style, and stress affect performance
💊 Placebo effect of steroids improves outcomes
🧑🏫 Doping culture present; EEG shows neural differences in novices vs. elites
Nutrition & Supplementation 🍽️
🥤 Weight cuts average ~3% body mass via water loading and diet restriction
☕ Creatine, caffeine, and ammonia common; creatine most effective
🚫 High historical PED use (up to 93%), but no recent prevalence data
Gaps & Future Directions 🔍
👩 Women and🧑🦽para athletes need more inclusion
🧠 Injury mechanisms and psychology under-researched
🚫 PED prevalence data outdated
📝 Standardised reporting and terminology required
Reference
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40924269/
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