Sprint Training Using Sleds

Will Resisted Sled Training Improve Your Sprint Performance

There are many tools for providing overload training for sprinting to improve acceleration and maximum speed performance. One of these is to use a weighted sled which is attached to the torso via a rope and harness.

However in developing training strategies, the coach has a number of factors which need to be considered.  Sprinting has be defined as as an initial acceleration phase (0 to 10 m), a phase of maximum running speed (36 to 100 m) and a transition phase in between. Here are some points for you to consider when developing your training strategies for each of your clients.

Muscle fibres – what impact you get from muscle fibre adaptations (ref Sports Med, 1997 Sep;24(3):147-56) .

Neural responses – do muscle recruitment and firing pattern (Sports Med 2001;31(6):409-25) need to be considered?

Kinematics – will there be impacts on technique or biomechanics (ref Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport 2002).

See Peter Maulder’s paper for a detailed discussion about the impact of sled training on the acceleration phase of sprinting.

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About the author

Bradley Wilson is the Managing Director of the AOK Health Group, established in 1994. The AOK Group is comprised of 3 companies which specialise in the design, manufacture and distribution of health and rehabilitation products, education and services worldwide. Bradley has not just fostered good products but also good business, winning the awards including 2008 Exporter of the Year, 2003 Fastest Growing Hunter Wholesaler and in 2004 Trainer of the Year in Logistics. In 2004, 2006 & 2008 Bradley was elected as a Director of the Hunter Business Chamber by the 1000 member companies of that organisation. He is Senior Vice President, Chair of the Executive, Audit, Business Development and Education Committees. In 2005 fellow board members elected him as a Councillor of NSW Business Chamber (previously Australian Business Ltd) - one of Australia’s largest business lobby groups. Bradley was a Councillor for 3 years. Respected enough to work with other prominent industry professionals throughout the world, he has developed a business model that allows his customers the advantage of the world’s best product and technological information unchallenged by their competitors.

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