Effects Of Training With And Without The Aid Of A Towing Device On Sprint Biomechanics, Perfonnance And Strength Measures

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the training effects between sprint training with the aid of a towing device and traditional unaided training. Eighteen college-aged males volunteered for this study and were randomly assigned to either a tow training group or an unaided sprint training group. Pretesting and posttesting procedures involved filming (using a LOCAM camera operating at 100Hz) the subjects at the 40m mark of a 55m maximal sprint, recording the 55m sprint time, and strength testing at the hip and knee using a CYBEX II isokinetic dynamometer. Both groups trained three times per week for five weeks. During the training period, the workouts became progressively more intense by increasing the number of sprint repetitions per session at the beginning of each week. A two-way mixed factor ANOVA was used to examine between group (tow training vs. unaided) and within group (pretest vs. posttest) differences. The results of the statistical comparisons indicated that after five weeks of training there were significant decreases in stride length, horizontal velocity, maximum thigh flexion, leg angular velocity prior to footstrike at the 40m mark in the 55m maximal sprint and significant increases in hip extension and knee flexion strength. Horizontal velocity was significantly higher for the tow training group. The 55m sprint time was not significantly different between the groups. The changes in sprint biomechanics suggest that the subjects began decelerating prior to the 40m mark and that improvements in sprinting occurred in the initial stages of the sprint. The results of the statistical analyses indicated that unaided sprint training was as effective as tow training in improving sprint performance.