DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL LOAD FOR RESISTED SPRINT TRAINING WITH SLED TOWING (original) (raw)

DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL LOAD FOR RESISTED SPRINT TRAINING WITH SLED TOWING. A PILOT STUDY

Alcaraz, PE, Palao, JM, and Elvira, JLL. Determining the optimal load for resisted sprint training with sled towing. J Strength Cond Res 23(2): xxx-xxx, 2009-An excessive load in resisted sprint training can produce changes in running patterns. Therefore, load control is essential to ensure the specificity of these training methods. The most common way to control it is through the percentage of velocity lost in relation to maximum velocity. The present paper describes a study that aimed to establish the load for sprint training with sled towing. The study developed a regression equation for calculating the load in the maximum velocity phase. The calculation was done with 26 athletes from the Spanish and French national levels on a synthetic track surface and with spikes. The regression equation obtained was % body mass = (20.8674 3 % velocity) + 87.99. The equation, although specific for type of surface used and sled towing characteristics, is useful in establishing the optimal load for acceleration and maximum velocity training with sled towing.

Effects of Sled Towing on Peak Force, the Rate of Force Development and Sprint Performance During the Acceleration Phase

Journal of Human Kinetics, 2015

Resisted sprint training is believed to increase strength specific to sprinting. Therefore, the knowledge of force output in these tasks is essential. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of sled towing (10%, 15% and 20% of body mass (Bm)) on sprint performance and force production during the acceleration phase. Twenty-three young experienced sprinters (17 men and 6 women; men = 17.9 ± 3.3 years, 1.79 ± 0.06 m and 69.4 ± 6.1 kg; women = 17.2 ± 1.7 years, 1.65 ± 0.04 m and 56.6 ± 2.3 kg) performed four 30 m sprints from a crouch start. Sprint times in 20 and 30 m sprint, peak force (Fpeak), a peak rate of force development (RFDpeak) and time to RFD (TRFD) in first step were recorded. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant increases (p ≤ 0.001) in sprint times (20 and 30 m sprint) for each resisted condition as compared to the unloaded condition. The RFDpeak increased significantly when a load increased (3129.4 ± 894.6 N·s−1, p ≤ 0.05 and 3892.4 ± 1377.9 N·s−1, p ≤ 0.01...

The Acute Effects of Heavy Sled Towing on Acceleration Performance and Sprint Mechanical and Kinematic Characteristics

Sports

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of heavy sled towing using a load corresponding to a 50% reduction of the individual theoretical maximal velocity (ranged 57–73% body mass) on subsequent 30 m sprint performance, velocity, mechanical variables (theoretical maximal horizontal force, theoretical maximal horizontal velocity, maximal mechanical power output, slope of the linear force–velocity relationship, maximal ratio of horizontal to total force and decrease in the ratio of horizontal to total force) and kinematics (step length and rate, contact and flight time). Twelve (n = 5 males and n = 7 females) junior running sprinters performed an exercise under two intervention conditions in random order. The experimental condition (EXP) consisted of two repetitions of 20 m resisted sprints, while in the control condition (CON), an active recovery was performed. Before (baseline) and after (post) the interventions, the 30 m sprint tests were analyzed. Participants showed f...

Effects of resisted sled towing on sprint kinematics in field-sport athletes

Journal of Strength and …, 2003

Weighted sled towing is a common resisted sprint training technique even though relatively little is known about the effects that such practice has on sprint kinematics. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of sled towing on acceleration sprint kinematics in field-sport athletes. Twenty men completed a series of sprints without resistance and with loads equating to 12.6 and 32.2% of body mass. Stride length was significantly reduced by ϳ10 and ϳ24% for each load, respectively. Stride frequency also decreased, but not to the extent of stride length. In addition, sled towing increased ground contact time, trunk lean, and hip flexion. Upper-body results showed an increase in shoulder range of motion with added resistance. The heavier load generally resulted in a greater disruption to normal acceleration kinematics compared with the lighter load. The lighter load is likely best for use in a training program.

Optimizing the load for peak power and peak velocity development during resisted sprinting

Physical Activity Review, 2021

Introduction: Resistance towing is perhaps the most specific form of developing strength and power in muscles involved directly during the start, acceleration and at maximum speed. Resisted sprint training may involve towing a sled which provides an overload through the friction between the sled and ground surface or a modern advanced training device which uses drag technology to provide fully controlled resistance during the movement, such as the 1080 Sprint. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the optimal loading for the development of power in the engine assisted drag technology system SPRINT 1080. Material and methods: We evaluated the changes in running velocity and the generated force and power during resisted sprints over 30m with a load of 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 kg. Seven male sprinters with national and international experience participated in the study. Their average age, body mass and body height were 22.2 ± 2.4 years, 77.43 ± 4.63 kg, and 178.6 ± 3.2 cm, respe...

Sled-Pull Load–Velocity Profiling and Implications for Sprint Training Prescription in Young Male Athletes

Sports

The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of individual load–velocity profiles and the between-athlete variation using the decrement in maximal velocity (Vdec) approach to prescribe training loads in resisted sled pulling in young athletes. Seventy high school, team sport, male athletes (age 16.7 ± 0.8 years) were recruited for the study. All participants performed one un-resisted and four resisted sled-pull sprints with incremental resistance of 20% BM. Maximal velocity was measured with a radar gun during each sprint and the load–velocity relationship established for each participant. A subset of 15 participants was used to examine the reliability of sled pulling on three separate occasions. For all individual participants, the load–velocity relationship was highly linear (r > 0.95). The slope of the load–velocity relationship was found to be reliable (coefficient of variation (CV) = 3.1%), with the loads that caused a decrement in velocity of 10, 25, 50, and 75% ...

Resisted Sled Sprint Kinematics: The Acute Effect of Load and Sporting Population

Sports, 2021

In this study, we assessed the acute kinematic effects of different sled load conditions (unloaded and at 10%, 20%, 30% decrement from maximum velocity (Vdec)) in different sporting populations. It is well-known that an athlete’s kinematics change with increasing sled load. However, to our knowledge, the relationship between the different loads in resisted sled sprinting (RSS) and kinematic characteristics is unknown. Thirty-three athletes (sprinters n = 10; team sport athletes n = 23) performed a familiarization session (day 1), and 12 sprints at different loads (day 2) over a distance of 40 m. Sprint time and average velocity were measured. Sagittal-plane high-speed video data was recorded for early acceleration and maximum velocity phase and joint angles computed. Loading introduced significant changes to hip, knee, ankle, and trunk angle for touch-down and toe-off for the acceleration and maximum velocity phase (p < 0.05). Knee, hip, and ankle angles became more flexed with i...

Effect of weighted sled towing on sprinting effectiveness, power and force-velocity relationship

PLOS ONE

This study aimed to compare the components of force-velocity (F-V) and power-velocity (P-V) profiles and the mechanical effectiveness of force application (or force ratio-RF) among various sled-towing loads during the entire acceleration phase of a weighted sled sprint. Eighteen sprinters performed four 50-m sprints in various conditions: unloaded; with a load corresponding to 20% of the athlete's body mass (BM); with a load of 30% BM; and with a load of 40% BM. Data were collected with five video cameras, and the images were digitised to obtain velocity from the derivation of the centre-of-mass position. F-V and P-V components and RF were estimated from sprinting velocity-time data for each load using a validated method that is based on an inverse dynamic approach applied to the sprinter's centreof-mass (it models the horizontal antero-posterior and vertical ground reaction force components) and requires only measurement of anthropometric and spatiotemporal variables (body mass, stature and instantaneous position or velocity during the acceleration phase). The theoretical maximal velocity decreased with load compared with the unloaded condition (for 20% BM:-6%, effect size (ES) = 0,38; for 30% BM:-15%, ES = 1.02; for 40% BM:-18%, ES = 1.10). The theoretical maximal horizontal force (F0) and maximal power were not different among conditions. However, power at the end of the acceleration phase increased with load (40% BM vs 0%: 72%; ES = 2.73) as well as the maximal mechanical effectiveness (12%; ES = 0.85). The linear decrease in RF was different between 30 or 40% BM and the unloaded condition (-23%; ES = 0.74 and 0.66). Better effectiveness may be developed with 40% BM load at the beginning of the acceleration and with the various load-induced changes in the components of the F-V and P-V relationships, allowing a more accurate determination of optimal loading conditions for maximizing power.

Training at maximal power in resisted sprinting: Optimal load determination methodology and pilot results in team sport athletes

Aims In the current study we investigated the effects of resisted sprint training on sprinting performance and underlying mechanical parameters (force-velocity-power profile) based on two different training protocols: (i) loads that represented maximum power output (L opt) and a 50% decrease in maximum unresisted sprinting velocity and (ii) lighter loads that represented a 10% decrease in maximum unresisted sprinting velocity, as drawn from previous research (L 10). Methods Soccer [n = 15 male] and rugby [n = 21; 9 male and 12 female] club-level athletes were individually assessed for horizontal force-velocity and load-velocity profiles using a battery of resisted sprints, sled or robotic resistance respectively. Athletes then performed a 12-session resisted (10 × 20-m; and pre-post-profiling) sprint training intervention following the L 10 or L opt protocol.