The investigation of the effects of sprint training on sloping surfaces on the mainteinance phase of sprint running

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of sprint training on sloping surfaces on kinematic parameters during the maintanance phase of sprinting in man. Thirty four healthy, recreationally active men were assigned to one of five groups: sedentary control (C), sprint training on uphill surface (Tu), sprint training on downhill surface (Td), combined uphill and downhill surfaces (Tu+Td), and finally sprint training on horizontally surface (Th). Sprint running training of Tu, Td and Tu+Td groups were applied at the platform having 4° sloping surface. One hundred meters sprint running performance, kinematic parameters such as stride length, stride rate and maximally running velocity during the slices of 10 meters of maintanance phase of sprint running, and also aerobic and anaerobic capacity of all groups were measured three times during the experimental period. Results were given + SD, and data of the five groups were analyzed by using Kruskal Wallis test, and repeated measurements of groups were done by using Wilcoxon test. A level of p<0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. The results of the present study demonstrated that 100 m or 50-100 m sprint running performances were statistically insignificant following sprint running training. However, maximally running velocity and the maintenance phase of sprinting were improved in all experimental groups. Improved maintenance phase was due to stride length in Td and Tu+Td groups, stride rate in Tu group, and finally both stride length and rate in H group. Sprint running training was resulted an increase on aerobic capacity of all experimental groups, and anaerobic capacity in H group compared with the C group. In conclusion, although sprint running on sloping surfaces did not result beter sprinting performance, stride length and stride rate alterations were resulted an improvement in maximally velocity maintenance in all experimental groups.