Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 17]

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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) Are Olympic athletes free from cardiovascular diseases? Systematic investigation in 2352 participants from Athens 2004 to Sochi 2014. British Medical Journal. Antonio Pelliccia

The study revealed an unexpected prevalence of CV abnormalities among Olympic athletes, including a small, but not negligible proportion of pathological conditions at risk. This observation suggests that Olympic athletes, despite the absence of symptoms or astonishing performances, are not immune from CV disorders and might be exposed to unforeseen high-risk during sport activity.

2. The Acute Effects of Static Stretching Compared to Dynamic Stretching with and without an Active Warm up on Anaerobic Performance. Department of Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

Prior to the commencement of this study, it was hypothesized that the dynamic stretching warm-up would be most beneficial on WAnT performance. Past studies have concluded that a proper warm-up, one that increases flexibility and range of motion while elevating body temperature and blood flow, will improve performance, specifically maximal anaerobic power . Therefore it was hypothesized that this study would yield similar results. The result was that subjects maximized performance and that their performance was not significantly hindered by any of the five warm-up protocols performed prior to testing.

3. The Effects of Caffeinated Gum and Caffeine Capsules on Running Sprint Performance. By Ispoglou, T. International Sport & Exercise Nutrition Conference, December 2016, Newcastle, England.

And the winner is…. GUM!! (I can hear Nick Symmonds cheering in the background!)

4. Achilles Tendon Injuries. Anthony C. Egger. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. March 2017.

[This is for me… Thanks Paul!] Recent findings….The incidence of Achilles tendon injuries is increasing, but the necessity for surgical intervention is decreasing due to improved conservative therapies, which may provide comparable outcomes without the implied surgical risk. If surgery is undertaken, no difference has been noted between open and minimally invasive techniques. The majority of patients are able to return to pre-injury level of activity, with the elite athlete as an unfortunate exception.

5. PERFORMANCE SUPPLEMENTS: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW VS. WHAT YOU HEAR FROM YOUR BRO by GEOFF LECOVIN.

A good review of the topic of performance supplements.

6. Calf muscle strain injuries in sport: a systematic review of risk factors for injury. Brady Green. British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Increasing age and previous calf strain injury are the most predictive of future calf injury.

7. Are knees really the problem for runners? by Christopher Connelly

Short answer…usually not. Good article.

8. The Potential for a Targeted Strength Training Programme to Decrease Asymmetry and Increase Performance: A Proof-of-Concept in Sprinting by Scott R. Brown.

A very interesting technical article. Soon to be published.

9. Biomechanical Differences in the Sprint Start Between Faster and Slower High-Level Sprinters by Milan Coh