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document
Effects of weighted sled towing with heavy versus light load on sprint acceleration ability . Weighted sled towing is used by athletes to improve sprint acceleration ability . The typical coaching recommendation is to use relatively light loads , as excessively heavy loads are hypothesized to disrupt running mechanics and be detrimental to sprint performance . However , this coaching recommendation has not been empirically tested . This study compared the effects of weighted sled towing with 2 different external loads on sprint acceleration ability . Twenty-one physically active men were randomly allocated to heavy- ( n = 10 ) or light-load weighted sled towing ( n = 11 ) groups . All subjects participated in 2 training sessions per week for 8 weeks . The subjects in the heavy and light groups performed weighted sled towing using external loads that reduced sprint velocity by approximately 30 and 10 % , respectively . Before and after the training , the subjects performed a 10-m sprint test , in which split time was measured at 5 and 10 m from the start . The heavy group significantly improved both the 5- and 10-m sprint time by 5.7 ± 5.7 and 5.0 ± 3.5 % , respectively ( P < 0.05 ) , whereas only 10-m sprint time was improved significantly by 3.0 ± 3.5 % ( P < 0.05 ) in the light group . No significant differences were found between the groups in the changes in 5-m and 10-m sprint time from pre- to posttraining . These results question the notion that training loads that induce greater than 10 % reduction in sprint velocity would negatively affect sprint performance and point out the potential benefit of using a heavier load for weighted sled towing .
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Intervention_Physical
weighted sled towing with heavy
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Intervention_Physical
light load
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Intervention_Physical
Weighted sled towing
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Intervention_Physical
weighted sled towing
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Intervention_Physical
heavy-
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Intervention_Physical
light-load weighted sled towing
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Outcome_Physical
sprint acceleration ability .
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Outcome_Physical
sprint acceleration ability .
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Outcome_Physical
sprint acceleration ability .
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Outcome_Physical
sprint velocity
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Outcome_Physical
split time
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Outcome_Physical
5- and 10-m sprint time
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Participant_Condition
sprint acceleration ability .
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Participant_Condition
athletes
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Participant_Sample-size
Twenty-one
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Participant_Condition
physically active
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Participant_Sex
men