Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 21]

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.

(Click on the link to the original reference, where applicable)

1.Peak Age and Performance Progression in World-Class Track-and-Field Athletes. Thomas A. Haugen International Journal of Sports Physiology. Oct. 2018.

Mean peak age was typically 25–27 y, but somewhat higher for marathon and male throwers (?28–29 y). Women reached greater peak age than men in the hurdles and middle- and long-distance running events (mean difference, ±90% CL: 0.6, ±0.3 to 1.9, ±0.3 y: small to moderate). Male throwers had greater peak age than corresponding women (1.3, ±0.3 y: small). Throwers displayed the greatest performance improvements over the 5 y prior to peak age (mean [SD]: 7.0% [2.9%]), clearly ahead of jumpers, long-distance runners, hurdlers, middle-distance runners, and sprinters (3.4, ±0.2% to 5.2, ±0.2%; moderate to large). Similarly, top 10 athletes showed greater improvements than top 11–100 athletes in all events (1.0, ±0.9% to 1.8, ±1.1%; small) except throws. Women improved more than men in all events (0.4, ±0.2% to 2.9, ±0.4%) except sprints.

2.Ten treatments to avoid in patients with lower limb tendon pain. Jill L Cook.   British Journal of Medicine. 2018.

This is a nice succinct editorial. You may have to write to the author to get a complete text, however.

3.Gender differences in repeated sprint ability.  Soydan, T. Alper.   IOS Press. March 2018

In conclusion gender related differences were observed in RSA (repeated sprint ability) except for PD%, HRmax and RPEmax which indicated that men and women were not different in terms of fatigue resistance and experienced the same physiological strain during the RSA test.

4.Why Olympic Weightlifting Makes You Better at Practically Any Sport. Jason Hartman. February 24, 2018.

A nice well-footnoted op-ed piece from a commercial website.

5.Discrete physiological effects of beetroot juice and potassium nitrate supplementation following 4-wk sprint interval training. Christopher Thompson. Journal of Applied Physiology. June 2018.

It works!

6.Return to Play Following Achilles Tendon Rupture. Michael Carmont. ESSKA Instructional Course.

Rehabilitation programmes need to consist of early weight-bearing and loading and a graduated development of heel-rise strength. Psychological recovery is also a key aspect to return to play at the pre-injury level of performance. [JIMSON’ NOTE: I can certainly agree with this 100%]

7. Swifter, higher, stronger: What’s on the menu? Science Mag. Nov. 2018. Louise M. Burke, John A. Hawley.

A review of diets that bring optimal performance to elite athletes.

8. A Simple Method for Measuring Force, Velocity and Power Capabilities and Mechanical Effectiveness During Sprint Running. Biomechanics of Training and Testing Journal.Pierre Samozino. February 2018

This information presents interesting practical applications for sport practitioners to individualize training focusing on sprint acceleration performance, but also perspectives in injury management.

9. Maximize Power and Sprint Performance with Heavy Sled Training. Jan 2017. James de Lacey.

[note: A commercial website, but well documented article.] The load in which power is maximised during sled training is far greater than previous sled training recommendations (78-82% of bodymass). A large discrepancy in optimal load values highlights the importance in force/velocity characteristics where an athlete may be more force or velocity dominant. Well trained sprinters exhibited greater Pmax values compared to recreational athletes.

10. Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse Improves Relative Mean Power During Multiple Sprint Performance. Garet W. Simpson. International Journal of Exercise Science. 2018.

Amazing but true….in this study!