SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Exercise Physiology
This article is part of the Research TopicInsights and Reviews In Movement Science 2025View all 7 articles
Effects of Resisted Sprint Training on Jump, Sprint, and Change-of-Direction Performance in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Provisionally accepted
- 1Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
- 2Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
- 3Anqing Normal University, Anqing, China
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Abstract: Objective: To systematically evaluate the effects of RST (resisted sprint training) on athletes' sprint, jump, and COD (change-of-direction performance). Methods: Following PRISMA, we searched seven databases from inception to July 12, 2025—PubMed, Web of Science (all databases), MEDLINE, CENTRAL, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Embase. Study certainty was appraised with GRADE. All included data were analyzed in Stata/MP 18.0. Results: Sixteen studies (404 participants) were included. RST significantly improved linear sprint performance (SMD=0.65, p < 0.001, I²=21.2%), vertical jump performance (SMD=-0.38, p=0.013 I²=0.0%), and COD ability (SMD=1.10, p < 0.001, I²=0.0%). UST(unresisted sprint training)also significantly improved linear sprint performance (SMD=0.42, p < 0.001, I²=15.6%) and COD ability (SMD=0.60, p < 0.001, I²=0.0%), but not vertical jump performance (SMD=-0.03, p=0.872, I²=0.0%). Compared with UST, RST produced a greater improvement in COD ability (p=0.043), with no significant differences for linear sprint (p=0.057) or vertical jump (p=0.102). Subgroup analyses indicated that, relative to UST, RST had larger benefits for 0–10 m linear sprint performance (p < 0.001) and among youth athletes (p=0.000). Versus RT (regular training), RST yielded greater improvements in linear sprint performance (p < 0.001) and vertical jump performance (p < 0.001), but not in COD ability (p=0.064). Conclusions: Both RST and UST improve linear sprint performance and COD ability. Only RST shows a significant within-group gain in vertical jump. Compared with UST, RST yields greater benefits for initial acceleration (0–10 m) and among youth athletes. Practically, when the primary goal is initial acceleration and COD, prioritize RST; for broader explosive-power development, pair RST with vertically oriented strength or plyometric training to develop both horizontal and vertical force qualities.
Keywords: Resisted sprint training, Unresisted Sprint Training, change-of-direction, Vertical jump, sprint
Received: 24 Sep 2025; Accepted: 03 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Chengcheng, Chen 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: Li Chengcheng, chengchengli1998@163.com
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