ATHLETIC REPUBLIC IS MORE THAN WEIGHTS AND
TREADMILLS
Much more. Athletic Republic is the culmination of
two decades of improving athletic performance.
That’s longer than most athletes’ careers. John
Frappier, a farm kid, designed the Acceleration
Training programs over some twenty years of study.
His first innovative programs were for gymnasts.
Traveling with the U.S. team to the U.S.S.R. in
1986, he realized that America’s athletic training
lagged behind that of the Soviets. Returning home,
he devised new ways to train and new machines upon
which to test one’s limits. He designed the Super
Treadmill, the patented Hockey Treadmill (Skate on a
treadmill? Are you kidding?), resistance cords
designed for each skill, and plyometric resistance
machines, platforms and blocks.
He’s still not through. Along with Athletic
Republic’s Chief Science and Technology Officer,
Steve Swanson, the duo has developed the interactive
athlete log for My Republic and devised a new force
plate that not only records effort, but compares
that effort to a huge database of precisely matched
results. What you wish you knew about your
competitors, well, now you know. And you know how
you compare and what kind of Acceleration Training
will move you ahead of the competition.
Want to know more about Athletic Republic’s
history? Click on any years below to see how
Acceleration Training has evolved since the early
years.
ATHLETIC REPUBLIC™ TIMELINE
Products, Protocols, Patents &
Research
^ = journal publication * = published conference
proceedings ** = book chapter
1986
President & Founder, John Frappier, studied in the
Former Soviet Union
1989
PRODUCT
Generation I Super Treadmill
Generation I SprintCords™
Four-Square Plyometric formation
Munoz Plyometric formation
Krumrie Plyometric formation
Leclair Plyometric formation
PROTOCOLS
Version I Running, levels 1-5
Version I Plyometrics, levels1-4
1990
Opened First Facility in Bismarck, ND
PRODUCT
Generation II Super Treadmill
PlyoPress
Pro Multi-Hip
Version III Protocol Manual
1991
PRODUCT
KickingCord™
PROTOCOLS
Version I Gymnastics
Levels I and II Pro Lineman
Levels I and II Pro Speed
RESEARCH
The Effects of Anaerobic Conditioning on Serum
Lactate in Young Athletes, St. Alexius Medical
Center (Bismarck, ND)
1992
PRODUCT
Pro Implosion
Patents
SprintCord™
KickingCord™
RESEARCH
Biochemical Analysis of Beginner and Advanced Level
Athletes Undergoing an Intense Anaerobic
Conditioning Program, Frappier Acceleration Training
Center (Fargo, ND) and Concordia College (Moorhead,
MN)
1993
PRODUCT
Hockey Treadmill
PROTOCOL
Version I PlyoPress Based
1994
PRODUCT
Hitting Harness (prototype)
PROTOCOLS
Hitting Level 1
Version I Skating, levels 1-3
Version I Home Proprioceptive Plyometrics
RESEARCH
EMG Activity of Ice Skating and Treadmill Skating In
Hockey Players, St. Cloud State University (St.
Cloud, MN)
The Effect of an Anaerobic Training Program
Utilizing A Skating Treadmill On Anaerobic
Performance, Lactate, And Other Metabolic
Parameters, University of North Dakota Medical
School (Grand Forks, ND)
1995
PRODUCT
ThrowingCord™
PATENT
Hockey Treadmill
Protocols
PlyoPlatform
Version II KickingCord™
RESEARCH
An Electromyographic Study of Back and Lower
Extremity Muscle Activity during PlyoPress
Exercises, a Squat Lift, and a Vertical Jump,
University of North Dakota Medical School (Grand
Forks, ND)
Velocity Changes in Throwing a Baseball after
Training with the “Throwing Cord” Versus a
Traditional Throwing Protocol, The University of
Montana (Missoula, MT)
1996
PATENTS
ThrowingCord™
PowerCord®
PROTOCOLS
ThrowingCord™, levels 1-2
Level I Collegiate Football Lineman
Levels I and II Collegiate Football Backs
Levels I and II Collegiate Football Plyometrics
RESEARCH
An Electromyographic Study of Back and Lower
Extremity Muscle Activity during a Traditional Squat
and the PlyoPress Leg Press, University of North
Dakota Medical School (Grand Forks, ND)
An Electromyographic Study of Quadriceps and
Hamstrings Activity during Forward and Backward
Walking, University of North Dakota Medical School
(Grand Forks, ND)
Muscular Coordination during Incline Sprint
Training, University of Massachusetts (Amherst, MA)
*Swanson SC, JP Frappier, and GE Caldwell. Joint
kinetics during level and incline treadmill
running. Proceedings of the 9th Biennial Conference
of the Canadian Society of Biomechanics, Vancouver,
BC, Canada, pp. 210.
1997
PROTOCOLS
Level III Pro Football Speed
RESEARCH
An Electromyographic and Video Analysis Study of the
Shoulder Girdle Musculature Activity during
Exercises with the Multi-SportCord, i.e. PowerCord,
University of North Dakota Medical School (Grand
Forks, ND)
An Electromyographic Study of Backward Walking
Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair,
University of North Dakota Medical School (Grand
Forks, ND)
Can Throwing Cords or Arm Ergometry Enhance Throwing
Velocity in Collegiate Baseball Players? St. Cloud
State University (St. Cloud, MN)
The Effects of Throwing Cords on Velocity and
Strength in Collegiate Baseball Players’, University
of North Dakota Medical School (Grand Forks, ND)
*Swanson SC, JP Frappier, and GE Caldwell. Joint
kinetics using an elastic loading device. Medicine
and Science in Sports and Exercise, (29) 5S
1998
PRODUCT
Version IV Protocol Manual
PROTOCOLS
Version I Skating
Version I Figure Skating, Levels 1-4
Version I Figure Skating, Plyometrics, Levels 1-4
Version I Figure Skating Jump Plyometrics
Version II Youth Running, Level I
RESEARCH
A Comparison Of A Traditional Training Program To
The Sports Acceleration Program In Improving
Athlete’s Speed, Quickness, Agility, Strength And
Power, University of North Dakota Medical School
(Grand Forks, ND)
Hamstring EMG Activity With the Hamstring Cords
Versus A Traditional Ham Curl Machine, Frappier
Acceleration (Fargo, ND)
*Swanson SC, JP Frappier, and GE Caldwell. Muscular
coordination during incline and level treadmill
running. Proceedings of the 3rd North American
Congress on Biomechanics, Waterloo, ONT, Canada, pp.
343-344An Electromyographic Study of Forward and
Backward Walking In Normals And In Subjects
Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair,
University of North Dakota Medical School (Grand
Forks, ND)
A Video Analysis and EMG Comparison Skating On The
Hockey Treadmill And On Ice At The Same Stride
Frequency, Frappier Acceleration (Fargo, ND) and
TOSH (Salt Lake City, UT)
1999
RESEARCH
An Electromyographic and Video Motion Analysis Study
Of Elite Sprinters At Varying Speeds And Inclines,
University of North Dakota Medical School (Grand
Forks, ND)
Electromyographic and Kinematic Analysis of Hockey
Skating, University of North Dakota Medical School
(Grand Forks, ND)
An Electromyographic Study of the Effects of
Plyometric Training Shoes On the Lower Extremity,
University of North Dakota Medical School (Grand
Forks, ND)
*Swanson SC, and GE Caldwell. Muscular coordination
during incline and level treadmill running: trained
versus untrained responses. Fifth IOC World Congress
on Sport Sciences, Sydney Australia, 37-38.
*Swanson SC, JP Frappier, and GE Caldwell. Muscular
coordination during incline running with an elastic
loading device. XVIIth International Society of
Biomechanics Congress, Calgary, AB Canada
2000
PROTOCOLS
Version V Protocol Manual
Version II Skating
RESEARCH
Comparison of Muscle Activation Patterns During a
Volleyball Jump with and Without Resistance Cords
(PowerCords) During Volleyball Blocking, The
University Of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)
^Swanson, Stephen C., and Graham E. Caldwell. An
integrated biomechanical analysis of high speed
incline and level treadmill running. Medicine and
Science in Sports and Exercise, 32 (6), 1146-1155.
*Walker JA, Frappier J, Johnson SC, and Swanson SC.
Effect of a 6-week incline treadmill training
program on Wingate test results and 40-yard sprint
times. Medicine and Science in Sports and
Exercise,.S; ACSM proceedings.
^Heidt RS Jr, Sweeterman LM, Carlonas RL, Traub JA,
Tekulve FX. Avoidance of soccer injuries with
preseason conditioning. Am J Sports Med.
Sep-Oct;28(5):659-62.
2001
PRODUCT
AIMS 1.0 (Athlete Information Management System)
PROTOCOLS
Version I Distance Running
Ground Based Training
Recreational Athlete Running
Recreational Athlete Plyometrics
Version II Hitting with PowerCords
PowerCord® Baseball
PowerCord® Basketball
PowerCord® Volleyball
PowerCord® Puck Handling & Shooting (no longer
available)
PATENT
Custom Fit Shoe
RESEARCH
Performance Based Analysis of an Incline Treadmill
Sprinting Program versus A Ground Based Sprinting
Program, University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)
**Swanson SC and JP Frappier. Introduction:
Application of biomechanics in sports rehabilitation
and training. Biomechanics of Sports Rehabilitation,
Shamus, E. and J. Shamus, Eds. McGraw-Hill. New
York, NY 10011
2002
FAST reaches 100 facility milestone
PRODUCT
Version I ACL Bridge Instructional VHS
Version III Training Manual
PlyoPress 3PQ Force Plate & Database Technology
PROTOCOLS
ACL Bridge
Youth Running
Version II Distance
RESEARCH
A Comparison of Gold Standard Performance Tests Pre
and Post Training On the Hockey Acceleration
Program, Minnesota Wild (St. Paul, MN)
2004
PRODUCTS
AccuPower Portable Force Plate & Data Base
Technology
Hitting Harness
PROTOCOLS
Golf Resistance Training
Harness and Resistance Cords added to Plyometrics
Version II ThrowingCord™
Version II Hitting
Version II Junior Skating, Levels 1-4
Version II Collegiate Skating
Version III Skating
Version VI Running
RESEARCH
*Establishing Validity And Reliability Of A New
Power Ergometer When Compared To Wingate Anaerobic
Power Testing And Isokinetics, South Dakota State
University (Brookings, SD)
*Determan, J, S Swanson, W. McDermott, and J.
Hamill. Ground reaction forces in treadmill vs.
overground running. Canadian Society of
Biomechanics, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. August
4-7.
*Hassan, CJ, SC Swanson, and GE Caldwell.
Three-Dimensional Joint Kinematics and Ground
Reaction Forces during Repeated Single-Leg Vertical
Jumps in Female High School Athletes. NSCA National
Meeting, Minneapolis, MN. July 15-17.
*Thelen, DG, ES Chumanov, DM Hoerth, BC
Heiderscheit, TM Best, and SC Swanson. Hamstring
muscle kinematics during sprinting. American
College of Sports Medicine. Indianapolis, IN, May
31-June 3.
*Young, MA, SC Swanson, and L. Li. Pelvic tilt
kinematics change with increased sprinting speed.
American College of Sports Medicine, National
Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, May 31-June 3.
2005
PRODUCTS
Version IV Training Manual
Version I Online Training & Certification
Version I Training Video
Certification Manual updates
Online ACL Bridge Exam
PROTOCOLS
Version I Wrestling
Pre/Post Treadmill PlyoPress Jump
Collegiate Hockey, levels 1-3
Pro Hockey, levels 1-2
Version VII Running
RESEARCH
*A Comparison of Vo2 Max and Metabolic Variables
between Treadmill Running and Treadmill Skating,
South Dakota State University (Brookings,
SD)
^Thelen DG, Chumanov ES, Best TM, Swanson SC,
Heiderscheit BC. Simulation of biceps femoris
musculotendon mechanics during the swing phase of
sprinting. Med Sci Sports Exerc. Nov;37(11):1931-8.
^Thelen DG, Chumanov ES, Hoerth DM, Best TM, Swanson
SC, Li L, Young M, Heiderscheit BC.Hamstring muscle
kinematics during treadmill sprinting. Medicine and
Science in Sports and Exercise, Jan;37(1):108-14
*Swanson, SC and GE Caldwell. Kinetic limitations
of maximal sprinting speed: revisited.
International Society of Biomechanics, Cleveland,
OH, August 1-4.
*Chumanov, ES, DG Thelen, DM Hoerth, TM Best, BC
Heiderscheit, and SC Swanson. Lateral hamstrings
are stretched more than the medial hamstrings during
sprinting. International Society of Biomechanics,
Cleveland, OH, August 1-4.
*Brock University Hockey research (4-5 publications
in print or in-press)
2006
PRODUCTS
Certification Manual updates
Force Treadmill and associated force and video
analysis data collection
PowerCords® Modifications (added thigh attachments
to waistband)
PROTOCOLS
Version IV Skating, Levels 1-4
Pre and post test Plyometrics, Levels 1-4 (recorded
electronically on AccuPower)
RESEARCH
*University of Connecticut’s work with AccuPower
(1-2 publications)
^Myer GD, Paterno MV, Ford KR, Quatman CE, Hewett
TE. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. Jun;36(6):385-402.
Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament
reconstruction: criteria-based progression through
the return-to-sport phase. (AccuPower used for
functional/bi-lateral symmetry testing)
^Myer GD, Ford KR, Brent JL, Hewett TE. J Strength
Cond Res. May;20(2):345-53. The effects of
plyometric vs. dynamic stabilization and balance
training on power, balance, and landing force in
female athletes. (AccuPower used in study)
^Hewett TE, Myer GD, Ford KR, Slauterbeck JR.
Preparticipation physical examination using a box
drop vertical jump test in young athletes: the
effects of puberty and sex. Clin J Sport Med.
Jul;16(4):298-304 (AccuPower used in study)
^Walsh MS, Ford KR, Bangen KJ, Myer GD, Hewett TE.
The validation of a portable force plate for
measuring force-time data during jumping and landing
tasks. J Strength Cond Res. Nov;20(4):730-4 (AccuPower
validation).
2008
RESEARCH
5 major projects in progress
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