Acute Effects of a Speed Training Program on Sprinting Step Kinematics and Performance.

Krzysztof Mackala,Tadeusz Osik,Milan Coch,Marek Fostiak,Brian Schweyen

doi:10.3390/ijerph16173138

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of speed training on sprint step kinematics and performance in male sprinters. Two groups of seven elite (best 100-m time: 10.37 ± 0.04 s) and seven sub-elite (best 100-m time: 10.71 ± 0.15 s) sprinters were recruited. Sprint performance was assessed in the 20 m (flying start), 40 m (standing start), and 60 m (starting block start). Step kinematics were extracted from the first nine running steps of the 20-m sprint using the Opto-Jump–Microgate system. Explosive power was quantified by performing the CMJ, standing long jump, standing triple jump, and standing five jumps. Significant post-test improvements (p < 0.05) were observed in both groups of sprinters. Performance improved by 0.11 s (elite) and 0.06 s (sub-elite) in the 20-m flying start and by 0.06 s (elite) and 0.08 s (sub-elite) in the 60-m start block start. Strong post-test correlations were observed between 60-m block start performance and standing five jumps (SFJ) in the elite group and between 20-m flying start and 40-m standing start performance and standing long jump (SLJ) and standing triple jump (STJ) in the sub-elite group. Speed training (ST) shows potential in the reduction of step variability and as an effective short-term intervention program in the improvement of sprint performance.

Highlights

Past investigations have indicated a significant commonality between sprinting performance and explosive power [1,2,3,4,5]
This study has shown that the application of eight SST sessions are effective in significantly increasing 60-m block start and 20-m flying start sprint performance
Significant improvements were observed in lower extremity explosive power as ascertained by vertical and horizontal jump testing

Summary

Introduction

Past investigations have indicated a significant commonality between sprinting performance (across distances from 20 to 100 m) and explosive power [1,2,3,4,5]. As the largest inhibitor in the sprinting movement is gravity, sprinters must produce large vertical ground reaction force during step take-off to achieve maximal velocity [6]. This is achieved via application of plyometric training as it uses jump-based movements to train and improve explosive power. ST is treated as a low-volume training strategy and credited with producing significant gains in maximal running velocity [7] This form of training is based on short bouts of all-out sprints separated by rest periods from 90 s to 5–6 min to enhance post-exercise recovery and avoid fatigue, including central nervous system fatigue [8,9,10]. Similar in one regard to plyometrics, sprint-specific running involves a rapid eccentric movement followed by a short amortization phase that is

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