The effectiveness of resisted movement training on sprinting and jumping performance

Resisted movement training is that in which the sports movement is performed with added resistance. To date, the effectiveness on enhancing sprint speed or vertical jump height had not been reviewed. The objectives of this review were to collate information on resisted training studies for sprinting and vertical jumping, ascertain whether resisted movement training was superior to normal unresisted movement training, and identify areas for future research. The review was based on peer-reviewed journal articles identified from electronic literature searches using MEDLINE and SPORTDiscus data bases from 1970 to 2010. Resisted sprint training was found to increase sprint speed but, in most cases, was no more effective than normal sprint training. There was some evidence that resisted sprint training was superior in increasing speed in the initial acceleration phase of sprinting. Resisted jump training in the form of weighted jump squats was shown to increase vertical jump height, but it was no more effective than plyometric depth jump training. Direct comparisons between resisted jump training and unresisted normal jump training were limited, but loaded eccentric countermovement jump squat training with unloaded concentric phase and eccentric landing was shown to generate superior results for elite jumpers. More prospective studies on resisted sprint training are required along with monitoring both kinematic and kinetic adaptations to fully determine any underlying mechanisms for any improvements in sprint speed. Based on the available data, the benefits and superiority of resisted sprint training have not been fully established. As for resisted jump training, although there are some promising findings, these results need to be duplicated by other researchers before resisted jump training can be claimed to be more effective than other forms of jump training.