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Increases in Lower-Body Strength Transfer Positively to Sprint Performance: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

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Abstract

Background

Although lower-body strength is correlated with sprint performance, whether increases in lower-body strength transfer positively to sprint performance remain unclear.

Objectives

This meta-analysis determined whether increases in lower-body strength (measured with the free-weight back squat exercise) transfer positively to sprint performance, and identified the effects of various subject characteristics and resistance-training variables on the magnitude of sprint improvement.

Methods

A computerized search was conducted in ADONIS, ERIC, SPORTDiscus, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, MEDLINE and PubMed databases, and references of original studies and reviews were searched for further relevant studies. The analysis comprised 510 subjects and 85 effect sizes (ESs), nested with 26 experimental and 11 control groups and 15 studies.

Results

There is a transfer between increases in lower-body strength and sprint performance as indicated by a very large significant correlation (r = −0.77; p = 0.0001) between squat strength ES and sprint ES. Additionally, the magnitude of sprint improvement is affected by the level of practice (p = 0.03) and body mass (r = 0.35; p = 0.011) of the subject, the frequency of resistance-training sessions per week (r = 0.50; p = 0.001) and the rest interval between sets of resistance-training exercises (r = −0.47; p ≤ 0.001). Conversely, the magnitude of sprint improvement is not affected by the athlete’s age (p = 0.86) and height (p = 0.08), the resistance-training methods used through the training intervention, (p = 0.06), average load intensity [% of 1 repetition maximum (RM)] used during the resistance-training sessions (p = 0.34), training program duration (p = 0.16), number of exercises per session (p = 0.16), number of sets per exercise (p = 0.06) and number of repetitions per set (p = 0.48).

Conclusions

Increases in lower-body strength transfer positively to sprint performance. The magnitude of sprint improvement is affected by numerous subject characteristics and resistance-training variables, but the large difference in number of ESs available should be taken into consideration. Overall, the reported improvement in sprint performance (sprint ES = −0.87, mean sprint improvement = 3.11 %) resulting from resistance training is of practical relevance for coaches and athletes in sport activities requiring high levels of speed.

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Acknowledgments

Laurent B. Seitz and G. Gregory Haff contributed to the conception and design of the study, and writing of the manuscript. Laurent B. Seitz, Tai T. Tran and Eduardo Saez de Villarreal contributed to the development of the search strategy analysis and to the acquisition of data. Laurent B. Seitz and Alvaro Reyes contributed to the analysis and interpretation of data. All authors contributed to drafting the article or revising it critically. All authors approved the final version to be submitted. The authors declare no conflicts and financial competing interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Exercise and Sports Sciences Research (CESSR), School of Exercise and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia

    Laurent B. Seitz & G. Gregory Haff

  2. School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia

    Alvaro Reyes

  3. Laboratory of Human Performance, Faculty of Sport, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain

    Eduardo Saez de Villarreal

  4. Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre, Casuarina Beach, NSW, Australia

    Tai T. Tran

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  1. Laurent B. Seitz
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Correspondence to Laurent B. Seitz.

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Seitz, L.B., Reyes, A., Tran, T.T. et al. Increases in Lower-Body Strength Transfer Positively to Sprint Performance: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Sports Med 44, 1693–1702 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-014-0227-1

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