Changes to horizontal force-velocity and impulse measures during sprint running acceleration with thigh and shank wearable resistance

ABSTRACT

This study determined the effects of two wearable resistance (WR) placements (i.e. thigh and shank) on horizontal force-velocity and impulse measures during sprint running acceleration. Eleven male athletes performed 50 m sprints either unloaded or with WR of 2% body mass attached to the thigh or shank. In-ground force platforms were used to measure ground reaction forces and determine dependent variables of interest. The main findings were: 1) increases in sprint times and reductions in maximum velocity were trivial to small when using thigh WR (0.00–1.93%) and small to moderate with shank WR (1.56–3.33%); 2) athletes maintained or significantly increased horizontal force-velocity mechanical variables with WR (effect size = 0.32–1.23), except for theoretical maximal velocity with thigh WR, and peak power, theoretical maximal velocity and maximal ratio of force with shank WR; 3) greater increases to braking and vertical impulses were observed with shank WR (2.72–26.3% compared to unloaded) than with thigh WR (2.17–12.1% compared to unloaded) when considering the entire acceleration phase; and, 4) no clear trends were observed in many of the individual responses. These findings highlight the velocity-specific nature of this resistance training method and provide insight into what mechanical components are overloaded by lower-limb WR.

KEYWORDS:

• Limb loading
• velocity
• sport specificity
• acceleration

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2021.1882771.

Disclosure statement

John Cronin is Head of Research for Lila but was blinded from data and statistical analyses and writing of this manuscript. His participation was limited to methodological design and final proofing. The remaining authors report no conflicts of interest.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.