Speed Development in a 100m Sprinter Using a Wetsuit
by Juan Gonzalez, PhD, CSCS and Shannon Beckwith
Developing speed in any athlete is a challenge. Track
coaches, strength and conditioning specialists, and
sport scientists have been contemplating how to pro-
vide the right amount of resistance without negatively
affecting the sprint mechanics of a sprinter for years.
Current resistance exercises and investigations have
been limited to sled pulling, harness oriented sprinting,
and running up inclined slopes (1,2,3,4,6). One specific
form of contemporary resistance training is the use of
compression garments to enhance muscle temperature
and improve peak power generation (5,7). The use of
a wet suit takes this concept one step further by pro-
viding the following: 1) Optimal resistance, which al-
lows for specific upper and lower body recruitment of
muscle fibers and, 2) Optimal increase in temperature
of the muscles specific to sprinting. This article aims to
identify a new method for enhancing a sprinter’s accel-
eration and speed in a 100-meter sprint through the use
of stored elastic energy transfer.
… but what if you live in the miserably cold windy seaside climate that is England.
Seriously, is the wet suit a bad idea for evening autumn / winter training in crap English weather?
The only possible problem, is that it might slightly decrease the stretch reflex forces of the muscles (when lengthened.) Because, with the wet suit on, you might not get as qick a swing, as without.
The problem with all resisted sprint training methods, is that they only seems to increase the concentric MTU work, but sightly decrease the eccentric and isometric MTU forces. The eccentric and isometric forces are higher when there is higher speed. But the concentric forces can be high even at slower speeds.
So this is a problem with resisted sprint training methods. It is also one of the reasons why resisted sprinting methods seem to improve only the first 10 to 20 meters velocity. (and so may improve sprint times over as much as 40 meters and 40 yards.)
If I have missed something, some one point out to me why the wet suit might still be a good idea, and I will gladly listen.
After all, I live in england - and I’m getting warmed up just thinking about a wet suit.
Any fellow English peeps thinking I’m going over the top, bare in mind: I live by the sea side, and have to contend with high winds as well. They are cold. It might be warm right now, but they’ll be a hurricane tonight and you know it
It depends what part of England you are from. South Western England gets warm winds, while the south east is comparitively dry. Infact Essex would be classed as a desert if it’s rainfall wasn’t spread evenly thoughout the year.
It depends what part of England you are from. South Western England gets warm winds, while the south east is comparitively dry. Infact Essex would be classed as a desert if it’s rainfall wasn’t spread evenly thoughout the year.
“Using a 3mm wetsuit to create the
transfer of stored elastic energy will greatly
enhance muscle recruitment, increasing the
production of power required to generate an
explosive 100 meter sprint block start…”
I presume this is referring to the elastic recoil at the end of the swing phase (increased by the tightening of the suit) leading to a faster and more powerful foot plant enhancing motor unit recruitment?
I just know there will be a few wet suits flying round tracks after this. For me I would only be interested in combating the cold climate in winter.
Actually, there was a lot of discussion some time ago about compresion shorts- a milder form of this I suppose. Everyone seems to wear them these days but it might have more to do with avoiding jock rash.
