Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 14]

Click here for all the previous Sprint Reviews 

Paul Hoffman has read and researched several research papers on sprinting and performance articles, so you don’t have to.  If any of these articles interest you, feel free to research the case studies and methodology and come up with your own conclusions.

1. Core Stability in Athletes: A Critical Analysis of Current Guidelines. Klaus Wirth. Sports Medicine. July 2016.

In this article, we explain why the guidelines created for back pain rehabilitation are insufficient for strength training in professional athletes. We critically analyze common concepts such as ‘selective activation’ and training on unstable surfaces.

2. How To Get The Benefit Of Depth Jumps Without Jumping. Craig Marker. July 2016.

While depth jumps are effective, the overspeed eccentric swing is a safer and more practical alternative.

3. The Secret to Speed. Dina Fine Maron. Scientific American. 19 July 2016.

Discusses biomechanical factors contributing to force production

4. The influence of forefoot bending stiffness of footwear on athletic injury and performance. Darren J. Stefanyshyn. Journal of Foot Science. June 2016.

There appears to be a specific amount of forefoot bending stiffness for optimal performance. Future research should focus on identifying the exact mechanism of performance improvement with modified bending stiffness to help determine how this optimal stiffness can be identified.

5. Mechanics of standing and crouching sprint starts. Jean Slawinski. Journal of Sports Science. 2016.

A scientific explanation of what is commonly known empirically.

6. Identification of Trail Leg Recovery Acceleration Curve Profiles For Use in Matching Track and Field Athletes to Events. William Johnson. Tennessee St. University.International Journal of Scientific Research.

A new approach for creating event specificity in sprinters.

7. Effect Of Vitamin E Supplementation Towards Development Of The Anaerobic Power And Phosphate Mediated Recovery Of Sprinters.  International Journal of Applied Pharmaceuticals. Aminul Hoque. 2016.

This study finds a positive correlation.

8. Impact Of Dynamic Balance And Hip Abductor Strength On Chronic Ankle Instability. Alejandro López-Valenciano;European Journal of Human Movement. 2016

This study reinforces the necessity of the inclusion of balance exercises for the lower extremity as a key content when designing rehabilitation programs for athletes with CAI. However, hip abductor strength exercises are still remains controversial.

9. Adding muscle where you need it: non-uniform hypertrophy patterns in elite sprinters. G. G. Handsfield. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. June 2016.

The results of this study suggest that non-uniform hypertrophy patterns, particularly large hip and knee flexors and extensors, are advantageous for fast sprinting.

10. Sprint Acceleration Mechanics in Master Athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2016 Jul 12. Pantoja PD.

In addition to lower neuromuscular force, velocity and power outputs, Master sprinters had a comparatively lower effectiveness of force application, especially at the beginning of the sprint.

11. Olympics bonus article :)