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Brief, intense exercise training using running and cycling as exercise interventions may induce aerobic and anaerobic adaptations in athletes from a wide range of sports. However, this has not been studied extensively for those sports in which the upper body is predominantly involved. Our purpose was to examine the effects of kayak paddling--based sprint interval training (SIT) on cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic performance. Sixteen professional female canoe polo athletes (age = 27.6 ± 1.9 years; height = 165.7 ± 5.2 cm; body mass = 62.6 ± 8.5 kg; body mass index = 22.8 kg⋅m-2 ; body fat = 23.8 ± 4.9%) were randomized to either an intense exercise training consisting of sets of 5 x 5-second maximum sprint efforts interspersed by a 10-second recovery between each sprint (3, 4, 5, and 6 sets/session from first to fourth week, respectively, with 3 minutes of rest between each set), performed 3 times per week for 4 weeks (n = 8), or a usual training control group (n = 8). Before and after the training period, aerobic and anaerobic measurements were assessed using a kayak specific test and Wingate protocol, respectively. Training increased V...O2 peak, O2 pulse, anaerobic threshold, peak, and mean power output in the SIT group compared with the control group (p ≤ 0.05) who showed no changes in these variables when tested 4 weeks apart without SIT. Paddling-based SIT was a potent stimulus and time-efficient strategy to induce rapid adaptations in aerobic and anaerobic performances in professional female canoe polo athletes who can use this training method to achieve fitness in a short period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was hypothesized that static stretch would shift the length-torque curve to the right, which may reduce the risk of muscle strain injuries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of static stretching of hamstring (SSH) on the risk of hamstring injury during sprinting indicated by the shift of the length--torque relationship. Twelve female college athletes (age: 20.8 ± 0.7 years; height: 1.61 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 54.25 ± 4.22 kg) participated in this study. Subjects performed overground sprinting under 2 conditions: after warm-up with 4 x 30 seconds SSH or after warm-up without SSH. Three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data and electromyography of biceps femoris long head (BFlh), rectus femoris, and vastus medialis were collected during testing. The maximum length of BFlh during late swing phase increased after SSH with large effect size and close to statistically significant (p = 0.05, d = 1.22), but the knee flexion torque at the peak length did not change significantly. Static stretching of hamstring significantly reduced peak values of both horizontal (d = 1.46) and vertical (d = 1.79) ground reaction forces, and BFlh's activation level during the preactivation (late swing) phase (p = 0.05, d = 2.16). The results indicated that the length of BFlh--knee torque relationship and the length of BFlh--hip torque relationships during the late swing phase and initial stance phase were shifted to the right after SSH, which may reduce risk of hamstring strain injuries. We suggest that preactivity static stretching should not be simply removed and participators should give priority to stretch muscles that are vulnerable to strain injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) elicits similar physiological adaptations as moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) despite less time commitment. However, there is debate whether HIIT is more aversive than MICT. This study compared physiological and perceptual responses between MICT and 3 regimes of HIIT. Nineteen active adults (age = 24.0 ± 3.3 years) unfamiliar with HIIT initially performed ramp exercise to exhaustion to measure maximal oxygen uptake (...O2 max) and determine workload for subsequent sessions, whose order was randomized. Sprint interval training (SIT) consisted of six 20-second bouts of "all-out" cycling at 140% of maximum watts (Wmax). Low-volume HIIT (HIIT LV) and high-volume HIIT (HIITHV) consisted of eight 60-second bouts at 85% Wmax and six 2-minute bouts at 70% Wmax, respectively. Moderate-intensity continuous training consisted of 25 minutes at 40% Wmax. Across regimes, work was not matched. Heart rate (HR), ...O2, blood lactate concentration (BLa), affect, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed during exercise. Ten minutes postexercise, Physical Activity Enjoyment (PACES) was measured via a survey. Results revealed significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) ...O2, HR, BLa, and RPE in SIT, HIITLV, and HIITHV vs. MICT. Despite a decline in affect during exercise (p < 0.01) and significantly lower affect (p ≤ 0.05) during all HIIT regimes vs. MICT at 50, 75, and 100% of session duration, PACES was similar across regimes (p = 0.65), although it was higher in women (p = 0.03). Findings from healthy adults unaccustomed to interval training demonstrate that HIIT and SIT are perceived as enjoyable as MICT despite being more aversive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of active (AC), ballistic (BA), passive (PA), and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching methods on performance in vertical jumping, sit and reach, and sprinting in young soccer players. Twelve trained soccer players (17.67 ± 0.87 years) participated in the study. The jump height (H), peak power (PP), and relative power (RP) in the squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ), the range of motion (ROM), the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and time (seconds) in 10-20-30-m sprints were evaluated. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in H were found in the comparisons between the PA and control (CO) condition for the SJ. For the CMJ, differences in H were observed between the PA and CO, and PNF with CO and BA, and in the PP between the PNF and CO, AC, and BA, as well as in the RP between the PNF and BA. Significant increases in ROM were found in the AC, BA, PA, and PNF compared with the CO. In relation to RPE, higher scores were reported in the PA and PNF conditions compared with the AC and BA. No significant differences were found in 10-20-30-m sprints. Therefore, the AC and BA methods can be used before vertical jump and sprint activities, with the aim of increasing flexibility. However, the PA and PNF methods should be avoided because of subsequent negative effects on vertical jump performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses the need for monitoring of kinematic and dynamic adaptations in resisted movement training on sprinting and jumping performance. He states that added resistance which is not excessive can be provided by athletic conditioning. The author notes that training adaptations can be optimized by greater stimulus to muscle strength.

The article discusses the impact of repeated sprint training (RST) and high-intensity interval (HIIT) including on aerobic fitness, jumping ability, and tennis playing endurance. An overview of the result of the training strategies which do not provide significant effect on jumping and sprinting abilities is provided. It explores the monitoring of several factors in HIIT including the maximum oxygen uptake, heart rate (HR) values, and the work-to-rest ratios.

The article presents a study which examined the effect of adding whole-body vibration (WBV) to preconditioning activity to the 40-m sprint performance. The researchers investigated the WBV effects to body-loaded half squats of amateur soccer players as preconditioning exercise before a sprint test. The study found that preconditioning exercise combined with WBV could enhance the sprint performance in amateur soccer athletes.

The article presents a study which examines the relationship between vertical jump measures and sprint speed over 10, 20 and 40 meters in professional basketball players. The participants in the study were professional basketball players who were tested on squat jump, countermovement jump and 40-m running speed. Results reveal that all jump measures in absolute terms were correlated significantly to running performance over 10, 20 and 40m sprint times.

The article presents a study which determines the relationship between isometric measures of force development and dynamic performance. The participants in the study are thirty-nine professional rugby league players performed a maximal isometric midthigh pull, bend at the knee, countermovement jump (CMJ) and sprint. Result shows that measures of maximal strength and explosiveness from isometric force-time curves are related to jump and sprint acceleration performance in rugby players.

The article presents a study on the effect of assisted and resisted sprint training on National Collegiate Athletic Association Division IA female soccer players' acceleration and maximal velocity. Resisted, assisted, and traditional sprint training programs were evaluated. Athletes in short distance acceleration events should use assisted sprint training. Participants in events that demand maximum velocity should use resisted sprint training.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the effects of adding four weeks of sprint-interval training to the traditional preseason training of Iranian wrestlers, in terms of hormonal and hematological adaptations, and aerobic and anaerobic performance. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the effect of 40-meter repeated sprint training on repeated sprint endurance, vertical jumping ability, maximum sprinting speed, and aerobic capacity in young male soccer players. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol.

The article discusses research that compares the effects of two half-squat training programs on fatigue in 20 professional soccer players. The study analyzed the athletes' repeated-sprint ability and found maximal half-squat strength increased in both training programs significantly. Lean leg volume was also measured.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated whether incorporating static stretching as part of a warmup routine for youth soccer players would affect their ability to perform repeated sprints. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the use of a perceived recovery status (PRS) scale in order to monitor recovery from exercise. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol, which involved bouts of sprinting and the correlation of physiological markers with subjective psychological self-assessments.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the phenomenon of muscular postactivation potentiation (PAP) in terms of sprinting and jumping performance. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol, which focused on the knee extensor muscles of male soccer players.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the effectiveness and validity of a multiple-sprint exercise test which was designed to measure proficiency at skills related to the game of squash. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the usefulness of a sprinting test with self-selected recovery periods. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol. It was found that runners were capable of self-regulating with considerable accuracy.

The article presents the results of a longitudinal study which investigated the effects of weight training for sprinting, using either weighted vests or weighted sleds. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol. It was found that neither weight training approach was as useful as training without weight.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the kinematic relationships between jumping and sprinting, in the context of women's soccer training. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol. It was found that unilateral jumps were more strongly correlated with sprint performance than bilateral jumps.

The article presents the results of research on measures of aerobic fitness and sprinting ability in soccer players at the elite level. An overview of related previous studies is provided, along with details of the research protocol, which involved tests of maximal aerobic capacity and the performance of high-intensity exercise.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the impact of static and dynamic stretching on movements such as sprinting and jumping. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol. It was found that the elite athletes who served as the test subjects did not suffer significantly impaired performance from stretching, except in the case of a 30-meter sprint.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the relationship between muscle strength, body weight and sprinting speed in college football players. It focused on the 40-yard sprint, and the generation of acceleration and velocity. Details of the experimental protocol are provided. It was found that the ratio of strength to body mass was a significant factor in sprint performance.

The article reports on research which was conducted to examine the effects of two in-season short-term sprint and power training protocols on vertical countermovement jump height, sprint speed and agility speed in male elite junior soccer players. Researchers evaluated 20 players. Researchers found that contrast training should be used rather than line sprint training in the short term in young elite soccer players when the aim is to improve soccer- specific sprint performance.

The article reports on research conducted to investigate the effects a pre-cooling intervention had on physiological and performance responses to team-sport training in the heat. Researchers evaluated seven male lacrosse players. They found that the use of a cooling intervention prior to a sprint training session in the heat can assist in reducing thermoregulatory load and improve aspects of training performance for team sports.

The article reports on research conducted to determine the impact lower extremity mass manipulation and inertia manipulation had on sprint kinematics. Researchers evaluated eight elite sprinters under normal conditions and after restricted sprint training. They found that lower extremity additional mass training led to a significant reduction in sprint time. They also found that no significant differences were observed across the remaining spatiotemporal variables that they examined.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the effects of sprinting on muscles, focusing on exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). The experimental protocol included measurements of delayed onset muscle soreness, creatine kinase activity and maximum isometric force. It was found that repeated sprinting with rapid deceleration produced significant EIMD.

The article presents the results of a study which compared the effectiveness of four different methods of 400-meter sprint training, focusing on their biochemical impacts. The experimental protocol included blood tests to measure creatine kinase, lactate and glucose. It was found that intermittent workouts were more effective than continuous workouts for stimulating the lactate system.

The article reports on research conducted to determine whether supplementing regular group training with short sessions of badminton-specific agility-sprint training led to greater changes in performance than regular training alone in national level badminton players. Researchers evaluated 12 badminton players. They found that supplementing regular training with sessions of short-duration sprint training led to increases in performance in national level badminton players.

The article reports on the results of research which was conducted in an effort to compare the effects two preconditioning activities; whole body vibration and power cleanse, had on the sprint performance of 14 male college track athletes. Researchers found that there were no differences between the effects of the two preconditioning activities and that neither of the activities was useful in improving sprinting performance.

The article presents the results of a study which compared the stride and velocity measurements of elite runners with those of less successful athletes in 400-meter races. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol, which involved detailed video analysis of factors such as stride length and step frequency. A discussion of the significant differences between the subject groups is presented.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the optimal weight load for sprinters when training with the resistance provided by pulling a sled. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol. An equation was derived which provides a generalized recommendation for optimal sled weight.

The article presents the results of a study which compared the effects of treadmill sprint training and resistance training on running power and velocity. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol, which involved the Woodway Force 3.0 treadmill. It was found that both training modalities improved performance, but a combination of the two produced the best results.

The article studies how a brief sprint interval session affects the balance between anabolic and catabolic hormones, and circulating inflammatory cytokines. Results revealed an increase in growth hormones (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein, testosterone and testosterone/cortisol ratio. However, IGF-I and cortisol levels were unaffected by exercise.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the relationship of muscular strength in the waist region, known as the core, to the performance of college football players. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol. Increased core strength was found to correlate, but not strongly, with other measures of strength and performance, including sprinting and various weight lifting exercises.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the effects of squat jump exercises on sprinting ability. The study focused on the question of whether increasing the weight moved or the speed at which it was moved would better increase performance. The members of a professional rugby team served as test subjects. It was found that squat jumps had little effect on sprinting ability.

The article presents the results of a study which investigated whether the National Football League's combine event provides an accurate evaluation of how well an athlete is likely to perform as a professional football player. An overview of the combine exercise test protocol is provided, along with details of the data analyzed. It was found that the majority of tests had minimal predictive value, with the notable exception of sprints.

The article discusses a study to examine the temporal differences among three standing starts that employed either a step forward or a step backward to initiate movement. An audio cue was used to mark the commencement of each start and to activate the timing gates. The results question the advocacy of removing the false step to improve th sprint performance of an athlete.

The article discusses a study to examine the effect of recovery mode on repeated sprint ability in young basketball players. The fatigue index during the active protocol was greater than in the passive condition. Repeated sprinting, passive recovery enabled better performance and reduce fatigue. The use of passive recovery is advisable during competition.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether 6 weeks of static hamstring stretching effects range of motion (ROM), sprint, and vertical jump performances in athletes. Twenty-one healthy division III women's track and field athletes participated in the study. Subjects were tested for bilateral knee ROM; 55-m sprint time; and vertical jump height before, at 3 weeks, and after the 6-week flexibility program. Subjects were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups and warmed up with a 10-minute jog on a track before a hamstring stretching protocol. The stretching protocol consisted of four repetitions held for 45 seconds, 4 days per week. Four variables (left and right leg ROM, 55-m sprint time, vertical jump) were analyzed using a repeated-measures analysis of variance design. No significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were found with any of the four variables between the stretching and control groups. Six weeks of a static hamstring stretching protocol did not improve knee ROM or sprint and vertical jump performances in women track and field athletes. The use of static stretching should be restricted to post practice or competition because of the detrimental effects reported throughout the literature. Based on the current investigation, it does not seem that chronic static stretching has a positive or negative impact on athletic performance. Thus, the efficacy of utilizing this practice is questionable and requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear sprinting is composed of acceleration and maximum velocity (MV) phases, and improving performance in each phase may require specific training methods. Although resisted sprint training using weighted sleds (WS) or weighted vests (WV) has recently become common practice, empirical evidence supporting their effectiveness for improving MV sprint performance is lacking. Furthermore, it has been suggested that these modalities may have different long-term effects on sprint kinematics, with WS potentially increasing stride length and WV decreasing ground-contact time and thus increasing stride rate. To determine the long-term effects of WS and WV training on MV sprint performance and kinematic parameters. 20 male NCAA Division-III lacrosse players (age: 19.82 ± 0.95 years, mass: 83.13 ± 11.69kg) voluntarily participated as part of their off-season training program. Subjects were randomly divided into a WS group (n = 7), a WV group (n = 6), and an unresisted (UR) active control group (n = 7). All subjects completed 13 60-minute training sessions over a 7-week period. WS subjects towed loads of 10% body mass, and WV subjects were loaded with 18.5% body mass. Pilot testing indicated these loads elicited acute decreases in MV approaching 10% and thus were appropriate for long-term training based on recommendations from the literature. Pre-and post-test measures of sprint time and average velocity across the distance interval of 18.3-54.9m were used to assess MV sprint performance, while high-speed video (300 Hz) and motion-analysis software were used to analyze kinematic measures of stride length (SL), stride rate (SR), average step ground time (GT), and average step flight time (FT). A 3 (training group) × 2 (time) repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant between-group differences for either 18.3-54.9m sprint times or average velocities. Effect size statistics (ES) suggested small improvements in average velocity for the UR group (ES = 0.63) but only trivial improvements for the WS (ES = 0.02) and WV groups (ES = 0.24). A 3 × 2 repeated measures ANOVA also revealed no significant between-group differences for any of the kinematic stride cycle measures. Effect size statistics suggested small increases in SR (ES = 0.42) and decreases in GT (ES = 0.38) for the UR group, small decreases in SL (ES = 0.42) for the WS group, as well as small decreases in SL (ES = 0.37), moderate increases in SR (ES = 0.78), and large decreases in FT (ES = 1.00) for the WV group. The results indicate that WS and WV training had no beneficial effect compared with UR training. In fact, for the loads employed by WS and WV in this study, UR training may actually be superior for improving MV sprint performance in the 18.3-54.9m interval. Also of note, the WS group did not demonstrate significant increases in SL and the WV group did not demonstrate significant decreases in GT as expected. For the loading schemes employed in this study, the results suggest that MV sprint performance might be most effectively enhanced by UR training protocols. Future research should be directed at manipulating the resistance load for the WS and WV groups to explore the effects of lighter loads that more closely match the kinematics of UR sprinting or heavier loads that increase the resistive training stimulus. This investigation was supported by an NSCA Student Research Grant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]