Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
10:08
Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players
Published on: June 10, 2025
Are Strength Adaptations Reflected in Changes in Sprint Acceleration Performance in Highly Trained Team Sport
Patrick M Holmberg1, Lachlan P James2, Hugh S Lamont3
1School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|May 11, 2026
Summary
Strength gains in highly trained team sport athletes did not immediately translate to sprint improvements. Sprint acceleration performance showed a delayed response to strength adaptations following a 9-week training program.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Strength adaptations are crucial for athletic performance in team sports.
- Understanding the relationship between strength gains and sprint acceleration is vital for optimizing training programs.
- Highly trained athletes may exhibit different responses to training interventions compared to less experienced individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether strength adaptations are reflected in sprint acceleration performance in highly trained male team sport athletes.
- To analyze the temporal relationship between changes in maximal strength and sprint performance during a periodized training intervention.
- To provide insights for designing effective training strategies for enhancing sprint capabilities in athletes.
Main Methods:
- Nineteen highly trained male team sport athletes participated in a 9-week periodized training program.
- Strength assessments included countermovement jump, maximal rebound jump, isometric squat, and 1-repetition maximum (1RM) back squat.
- Sprint performance was evaluated using 20-m sprint tests at baseline, mid-test, and post-test.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in net peak force and countermovement jump height were observed.
- One-repetition maximum back squat strength improved significantly throughout the intervention.
- Sprint times for 0-10 m and 0-20 m showed significant improvements only at post-test, indicating a delayed performance effect.
Conclusions:
- Strength adaptations, particularly in maximal strength, occurred during the training intervention.
- Sprint acceleration performance improvements lagged behind strength gains, suggesting a need for training periodization that accounts for this delayed effect.
- These findings can inform the development of training programs to optimize sprint performance in team sport athletes.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
01:17Force and Momentum
Force and momentum are intimately related. Force acting over time can change momentum, and Newton's second law of motion can be stated in its most broadly applicable form in terms of momentum. Momentum can be applied to systems where the mass is changing, such as rockets, as well as to systems of constant mass. Also, momentum continues to be a key concept in the study of atomic and subatomic particles in quantum mechanics. One can consider systems with varying mass in some detail; however, the...
01:04Social Facilitation
Not all intergroup interactions lead to negative outcomes. Sometimes, being in a group situation can improve performance. Social facilitation occurs when an individual performs better when an audience is watching than when the individual performs the behavior alone. This typically occurs when people are performing a task for which they are skilled.
01:15Natural Selection and Adaptation
Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations, psychological...
Beyond physical adaptations, psychological...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Exercise significantly impacts cardiovascular response, which is crucial for understanding patient health and designing effective treatment plans.
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...