Waveform analysis of shank loaded wearable resistance during sprint running acceleration

Lower-limb wearable resistance (WR) provides a specific and targeted overload to the musculature involved in sprint running, however, it is unknown if greater impact forces occur with additional limb mass. This study compared contact times ground reaction force waveforms between running no load 2% body mass (BM) shank-positioned WR over 30 m. Fifteen male university-level specialists completed two maximum effort sprints each condition randomized order. Sprint shank resulted trivial changes at 5 m, 10 20 m (effect size [ES] = <0.20, p > 0.05) small, significant increase time by 1.94% (ES 0.25, 0.03). Significant differences unloaded loaded were limited anterior-posterior direction occurred 20% 30% of Shank did not result magnitudes horizontal or vertical during initial portion contact. Practitioners can prescribe training loads ≤2% BM without concern for increased risk injurious forces.