The effect of resisted sprint training on maximum sprint kinetics and kinematics in youth

Abstract

Resisted sled towing is a popular and efficient training method to improve sprint performance in adults, however, has not been utilised in youth populations. The purpose therefore was to investigate the effect of resisted sled towing training on the kinematics and kinetics of maximal sprint velocity in youth of different maturation status. Pre- and post-intervention 30 metre sprint performance of 32 children, 18 pre-peak height velocity (PHV) and 14 mid-/post-PHV, were tested on a non-motorised treadmill. The 6-week intervention consisted of ∼12 sessions for pre-PHV and 14 for mid-/post-PHV of resisted sled towing training with each sessions comprised of 8–10 sprints covering 15–30 metres with a load of 2.5, 5, 7.5 or 10% body mass. Pre-PHV participants did not improve sprint performance, while the mid-/post-PHV participants had significant (P < 0.05) reductions (percent change, effect size) in sprint time (−5.76, −0.74), relative leg stiffness (−45.0, −2.16) and relative vertical stiffness (−17.4, −0.76) and a significant increase in average velocity (5.99, 0.76), average step rate (5.65, 0.53), average power (6.36, 0.31), peak horizontal force (9.70, 0.72), average relative vertical forces (3.45, 1.70) and vertical displacement (14.6, 1.46). It seems that sled towing may be a more suitable training method in mid-/post-PHV athletes to improve 30 metre sprint performance.

Keywords:

• Sled towing
• maturation
• peak height velocity
• running
• mechanics

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the physical education teacher from the Lai Meng School Abas Kasim for his co-operation. He was a great help in realising the study. We would also like to acknowledge the help from the staff of the National Sport Institute of Malaysia during data collection.