Changes to horizontal force-velocity and impulse measures during sprint running acceleration with thigh and shank wearable resistance. Issue 13 (3rd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Feser, Erin H.; Bezodis, Neil E.; Neville, Jono; Macadam, Paul; Uthoff, Aaron M.; Nagahara, Ryu; Tinwala, Farhan; Clark, Kenneth; Cronin, John B.
• Is Part Of: Journal of sports sciences. Volume 39:Issue 13(2021)
• Page Start: 1519
• Page End: 1527
• Publication Date: 2021-07-03
• Subjects: Limb loading -- velocity -- sport specificity -- acceleration; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 612.044
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2021.1882771
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-0414

Abstract

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.