REVIEW article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Exercise Physiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1590866
This article is part of the Research TopicAcute and Chronic Physiological Adaptations to Resistance Exercises Across Various Populations: Mechanisms and Practical ApplicationsView all 15 articles
Effects of Wearable Resistance Training on Linear Sprinting Ability and Jump Ability in Healthy Populations: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis
Provisionally accepted
- 1Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China
- 2Beijing Normal University, Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
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Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate and analyze the effects of weighted resistance training (WRT) on linear sprinting and jump abilities in healthy populations through a three-level meta-analysis.Methods: We systematically searched five databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and Embase, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of WRT on linear sprinting and jumping abilities, with the search conducted from database inception until May 1, 2025. The quality of the literature was assessed using the Cochrane ROB2 tool and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, whereas the quality of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. A three-level random effects model was implemented in R for the meta-analysis, along with an assessment of publication bias. Hedges’ g and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for evaluation. Publication bias was examined using funnel plots and multilevel Egger’s regression tests.Results: Ten studies, comprising 256 participants, were included. The meta-analysis results indicated that WRT significantly improved linear sprinting ability (g = -0.292, 95% CI: -0.558 to -0.027, p < 0.05), while no significant effect was observed on jumping ability (g = 0.238, 95% CI: -0.067 to 0.545, p = 0.118). Subgroup analyses revealed that WRT positively impacted 10-meter linear sprinting performance (g = -0.393, 95% CI -0.784 to -0.002, p = 0.049). Specifically, trunk WRT (g = -0.554, 95% CI -1.013 to -0.096, p = 0.020) and weights ≤ 10% of body mass (BM) (g = -0.495, 95% CI -0.884 to -0.107, p = 0.014) significantly improved sprinting performance. The GRADE assessment indicated that the quality of evidence regarding the effects of WRT on linear sprinting and jumping abilities was low.Conclusion: These findings suggest that WRT with trunk load and weights ≤ 10% of BM can enhance start acceleration (0-10m) during sprinting. However, WRT did not significantly improve jumping ability.
Keywords: wearable resistance training, sprint, Jump, Biomechanics, Meta-analysis
Received: 10 Mar 2025; Accepted: 28 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Wei, Zhou, Wang and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Xiaoquan Zhang, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China
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