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

Abstract

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 faster 30 m sprint times following sled towing (p = 0.005). Running velocity was significantly higher in EXP at 5–10 m (p = 0.032), 10–15 m (p = 0.006), 15–20 m (p = 0.004), 20–25 m (p = 0.015) and 25–30 m (p = 0.014). No significant changes in sprint mechanical variables and kinematics were observed. Heavy sled towing appeared to be an effective post-activation potentiation stimulus to acutely enhance sprint acceleration performance with no effect on the athlete’s running technique.

Effect of Resisted Sled Sprints in Sprint Start and Acceleration Performance: Preliminary Results

“…This does not confirm past findings [4]. However, there is bias in the literature, since SF was not subjected to changes after RSS training [28] and loading [25]. The lack of changes in the present study might be attributed to the of a light load (≈10%) to the participants, as this load is believed to be a light overload that cannot alter the movement pattern and velocity [1].…”

“…No differences were found for t FL , unlike past findings [4], [25]. However, research has provided evidence that t FL was not changed after an RSS intervention [28].…”

“…Based on the outcome of literature reviews, resisted sled pulling sprints (RSS) are widely acknowledged as an effective sprint training method [1], [19]. In addition, past [4], [12] and recent [23], [28] research has examined the acute effects of RSS on sprinting kinematics. However, despite the efforts to estimate the resistive forces applied to the athlete+sled system to optimize the loading of the practitioners [5], [15], there is a lack of an accurate estimation method of their magnitude [6].…”

The Effects of Heavy Resisted Sled Pulling on Sprint Mechanics and Spatiotemporal Parameters

“…Step length for each step was defined by the locations at which the subject's toes contacted the ground during a stride. The distance from the toe to the nearest pairs of reference markers was determined by projecting the position of the subject's toe during the touchdown onto a line between 2 reference markers (4,10,23,32,36). Step frequency was calculated by dividing running velocity by SL.…”

Does Sled Training with a Load of 10 Kilograms Have an Effect on the Speed of College Student Soccer Players?

“…Sled training involves an athlete running while pulling a weighted sled to generate excess load during specific movement patterns in the running (Petrakos et al, 2016). Sled training is adequate for improving sprint performance using heavier loads (Kawamori et al, 2014;Zisi et al, 2022). However, according to research by Alcaraz et al (2018) on the use of sleds, no optimal load must be used.…”