The Effects of Resisted Training Using Parachute on Sprint Performance 9

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of resisted and un-resisted sprint training programmes (STP) on acceleration and maximum speed performance. Sixteen sprint athletes divided into two groups (resisted group -RG and un resisted group UG, n = 8 each), age 25 ± 4 y, height 172 ± 0.8 cm and weight 61.5 ± 10.6 kg. RG followed the STP towing a large size parachute and the UG followed a STP without resistance. Stride length (SL), stride frequency (SF), contact time (CT) and flight time (FT) were also evaluated. The results showed that the RG improved running velocity (RV) in all sections of acceleration phase (AP), while the UG in the run section 0 20 m. A comparison between groups indicated that RV was significantly higher during run section 0 20 m in the RG compared to the UG. For the maximum speed phase the resisted STP improved the RV in the 40 50 m run section and the maximum speed between 40 47 m, while un-resisted STP had no effect in any run section. SL increased after resisted and un resisted STP in AP, whereas SF increased only after resisted STP in maximum speed phase. It is concluded that resisted STP with large size parachute significantly improves RV during AP by increasing SL and during maximum speed phase by increasing SF in sprint athletes.