SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Exercise Physiology
Effect of Sand-Based Training on Sprint Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Provisionally accepted
- 1Hunan First Normal University, Changsha, China
- 2National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, China
- 3Faculty of Sports and Exercise Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Background: Sand-based training (SBT) is widely hypothesized to enhance sprint performance; however, its overall efficacy remains unclear due to inconsistencies in methodologies and findings across studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the magnitude of SBT's impact on sprint performance in competitive athletes. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, five databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus) were systematically searched from inception to May 2025. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining competitive athletes undergoing SBT interventions (≥4 weeks) compared to non-sand or no-intervention controls. The primary outcome was linear sprint performance. Meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 16.0; standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random- or fixed-effects models. Results: Nineteen studies (N = 433 athletes) met the inclusion criteria. SBT significantly enhanced sprint performance in within-group (SMD = -0.92 [95% CI: -1.10, -0.74]; p < 0.001) and between-group comparisons (SMD = -0.64 [-0.87, -0.42]; p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses indicated that SBT demonstrated significantly greater improvements compared to alternative training modalities (SMD = -1.13, p = 0.001). In-season training and higher-frequency training (≥3 sessions/week) were associated with larger performance gains (SMD = -0.87 and -1.12, respectively). Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that SBT is a promising strategy for improving sprint performance, with maximal benefits observed when implementing high-frequency protocols during the competitive season. Future research should prioritize standardized training methodologies, long-term adaptive responses, and applicability across diverse athletic populations.
Keywords: Meta-analysis, Plyometric training, Sand-based training, sprint performance, Training surfaces
Received: 14 Jul 2025; Accepted: 12 Jan 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Meng, CHEN, Xiang, Jiang, Liu and YI. 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: QING YI
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