Sled-Pull Load–Velocity Profiling and Implications for Sprint Training Prescription in Young Male Athletes

oleh: Micheál J. Cahill, Jon L. Oliver, John B. Cronin, Kenneth P. Clark, Matt R. Cross, Rhodri S. Lloyd

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2019-05-01

Deskripsi

The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of individual load&#8722;velocity profiles and the between-athlete variation using the decrement in maximal velocity (Vdec) approach to prescribe training loads in resisted sled pulling in young athletes. Seventy high school, team sport, male athletes (age 16.7 &#177; 0.8 years) were recruited for the study. All participants performed one un-resisted and four resisted sled-pull sprints with incremental resistance of 20% BM. Maximal velocity was measured with a radar gun during each sprint and the load&#8722;velocity relationship established for each participant. A subset of 15 participants was used to examine the reliability of sled pulling on three separate occasions. For all individual participants, the load&#8722;velocity relationship was highly linear (<i>r</i> &gt; 0.95). The slope of the load&#8722;velocity relationship was found to be reliable (coefficient of variation (CV) = 3.1%), with the loads that caused a decrement in velocity of 10, 25, 50, and 75% also found to be reliable (CVs = &lt;5%). However, there was a large between-participant variation (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) in the load that caused a given Vdec, with loads of 14&#8722;21% body mass (% BM) causing a Vdec of 10%, 36&#8722;53% BM causing a Vdec of 25%, 71&#8722;107% BM causing a Vdec of 50%, and 107&#8722;160% BM causing a Vdec of 75%. The Vdec method can be reliably used to prescribe sled-pulling loads in young athletes, but practitioners should be aware that the load required to cause a given Vdec is highly individualized.