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Powerlifting participation and engagement across all ages : A retrospective, longitudinal, population analysis with comparison to community strength norms
van den Hoek, Daniel J. Mallard, Alistair Garrett, Joel M. Beaumont, Patrick L. Howells, Robert J. Spathis, Jemima G. Pearson, Joshua Latella, Christopher
van den Hoek, Daniel J.
Mallard, Alistair
Garrett, Joel M.
Beaumont, Patrick L.
Howells, Robert J.
Spathis, Jemima G.
Pearson, Joshua
Latella, Christopher
Abstract
Background
In Australia, one-third of people ≥15 years perform regular resistance training and 90% of those do not meet current health guidelines. All age groups should engage in regular resistance exercise, to maintain strength and function.
Objectives
To identify trends in powerlifting competition participation in Australia by sex and age group from 1968 to 2022, and to compare the strength of powerlifting competitors to population age- and sex-based normative values.
Method
The number of unique participants and total competition entries for each year were analysed using Australian powerlifting competition data. Subdomains of age and sex were investigated, and mean ± SD, frequency, range, and trend analyses reported. United Nations age classifications were used to identify age trends. Comparisons to population strength norms were explored descriptively.
Results
We included 21,514 individual competitors from 1942 powerlifting competitions between 1968 and 2022. Exponential growth was seen in competition entries from 115 in 1981, to 759 in 1994, 1014 in 2011, and to 6803 in 2022, (R2 = 0.86). At first participation 18–25-year olds (51.1%) followed by ≥36 years (16%) were most represented. Strength comparison to available population norms demonstrates superior upper- (bench press [most competitors above 70th percentile) and lower-body (squat [majority rated ‘excellent’) strength.
Conclusions
Superior strength levels of powerlifters further the evidence base for this sport as an effective way to develop muscular strength, with low injury. We advocate for public health promotion and additional support for powerlifting as an underutilised community health tool.
Keywords
bench press, health, relative squat strength, resistance training
Date
2024
Type
Journal article
Journal
International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching
Book
Volume
19
Issue
5
Page Range
2199-2209
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open
Notes
© The Author(s) 2024.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).