Acute and longitudinal effects of weighted vest training on sprint-running performance: a systematic review. Issue 3 (16th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Macadam, Paul; Cronin, John B.; Feser, Erin H.
• Is Part Of: Sports biomechanics. Volume 21:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 239
• Page End: 254
• Publication Date: 2022-03-16
• Subjects: Wearable resistance -- resisted sprints -- kinematics -- kinetics -- specificity; Biomechanics -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Human mechanics -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2019.1607542
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-3141

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This systematic review aimed to quantify the acute and longitudinal effects that occur with weighted vests during sprint-running. PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science were searched using the Boolean phrases (vest OR trunk) AND (sprint*) AND (resist* OR weight OR load*). From 170 articles retrieved, 11 studies (6 acute, 5 longitudinal) met the inclusion criteria. Vest loads (5–40% body mass) were found to significantly increase acute over-ground times (10–50 m 4.1–16.9%, effect sizes [ES] = 0.93–3.11) through significantly decreased velocity (−2.2% to −17.3%, ES = −0.41 to −3.19), horizontal force (−5.9% to −22.1%, ES = −0.85 to −3.30), maximal power (−4.3% to −35.6%, ES = −0.32 to −3.44), and flight times (−8.3% to −14.6%, ES = −0.88 to −1.03), while increasing contact times (14.7–19.6%, ES = 1.80–3.17). Treadmill sprints were less effected until loads >11% body mass were used. Improvements in velocity (1.2–1.3%, ES = 0.24–0.37) and times (10–50 m 1.2–9.4%, ES = 0.25–3.30) were found in longitudinal studies (5.6–18.9% body mass, 3–7 weeks). Future studies should focus on determining the optimum load and volume to clearly establish the training benefits of this form of resisted sprinting.