Acute effects of eccentric overload training with different loading doses in male sprinters

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Muscle explosiveness is crucial for sprint performance.
• Understanding the acute effects of different training modalities is essential for optimizing athlete preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the immediate effects of two doses of Flywheel Eccentric Overload (FEOL), Eccentric Hook (EH), and High-intensity Half Squat (HHS) on muscle explosiveness in male sprinters.
• To compare the efficacy of different training methods and dosages on jump performance and sprint times.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-one sub-elite male sprinters were divided into three groups (FEOL, EH, HHS).
• Interventions included two doses (D1, D2) of FEOL, EH, and HHS.
• Measurements included countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), standing long jump (SLJ) heights, relative peak power, and 30-m sprint times, assessed pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• At D1, HHS significantly improved CMJ, SJ height, and relative peak power (p < 0.05).
• At D2, FEOL and EH significantly enhanced CMJ, SJ height, and relative peak power (p < 0.01), while HHS showed a tendency to decrease these metrics (p < 0.05).
• FEOL and EH at D2 yielded superior results in CMJ and peak power compared to HHS at D1 (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• HHS at D1, and FEOL and EH at D2, effectively improve performance in 30-m sprints, CMJ, and SJ tests for sub-elite athletes.
• FEOL demonstrates a greater acute augmentation effect than EH in the CMJ test.
• Training modality and dosage significantly influence acute changes in muscle explosiveness.