The The Effect of an Off-Feet Conditioning Protocol on Performance and Training Load Response to Intermittent Sprint Training Compared to an Equivalent Running Based Protocol

Training for maximal intensity actions can lead to muscle damage, muscle soreness, and neuromuscular fatigue if not carefully managed.  Due to this potential impact, coaches sometimes look to off-feet conditioning (OFC) as an alternative. A training intervention compared an OFC protocol using cycle...

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Main Authors: Timothy Rogers, Ryan Connell, Jarrod Free, Nicholas Gill, Kim Hebert-Losier, Martyn Beaven
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association 2025-05-01
Series:International Journal of Strength and Conditioning
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Online Access:https://journal.iusca.org/index.php/Journal/article/view/410
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author Timothy Rogers
Ryan Connell
Jarrod Free
Nicholas Gill
Kim Hebert-Losier
Martyn Beaven
author_facet Timothy Rogers
Ryan Connell
Jarrod Free
Nicholas Gill
Kim Hebert-Losier
Martyn Beaven
author_sort Timothy Rogers
collection DOAJ
description Training for maximal intensity actions can lead to muscle damage, muscle soreness, and neuromuscular fatigue if not carefully managed.  Due to this potential impact, coaches sometimes look to off-feet conditioning (OFC) as an alternative. A training intervention compared an OFC protocol using cycle ergometer sprints with an equivalent running protocol. Seventeen (17) participants volunteered and completed the study. Following baseline testing participants were divided into a cycle (BIKE) or shuttle (RUN) group. Training intervention was 10-12 6 s sprint efforts with 80-seconds recovery.  Post testing showed significant time effect for absolute (p=0.045), and substantial change for Mean Power (p=0.0606) for BIKE. There was a significant time effect in the shuttle test (p=0.008) for RUN. Substantial, non-significant improvements in performance were found in 10 m (p=0.261) 20 m time (p=0.307) and Peak Power (p=0.160) for BIKE. RPE was significantly higher in BIKE (p<0.001). Next-day soreness was significantly higher for RUN (p<0.001). Neither intervention negatively affected any measure. The cycle protocol may benefit sprint running performance. This form of training may mitigate the impact of high volumes of run-based training by decreasing eccentric loading thus reducing soreness. OFC may be useful for maintaining performance without adding mechanical stress on the lower body.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association
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spelling doaj-art-49d521be704b42e68c2aa51252ce80302025-08-20T03:16:45ZengInternational Universities Strength and Conditioning AssociationInternational Journal of Strength and Conditioning2634-22352025-05-015110.47206/ijsc.v5i1.410The The Effect of an Off-Feet Conditioning Protocol on Performance and Training Load Response to Intermittent Sprint Training Compared to an Equivalent Running Based ProtocolTimothy Rogers0Ryan Connell1Jarrod Free2Nicholas Gill3Kim Hebert-Losier4Martyn Beaven5University of WaikatoCanberra Raiders Rugby League ClubCanberra Raiders Rugby League ClubUniversity of WaikatoUniversity of WaikatoUniversity of WaikatoTraining for maximal intensity actions can lead to muscle damage, muscle soreness, and neuromuscular fatigue if not carefully managed.  Due to this potential impact, coaches sometimes look to off-feet conditioning (OFC) as an alternative. A training intervention compared an OFC protocol using cycle ergometer sprints with an equivalent running protocol. Seventeen (17) participants volunteered and completed the study. Following baseline testing participants were divided into a cycle (BIKE) or shuttle (RUN) group. Training intervention was 10-12 6 s sprint efforts with 80-seconds recovery.  Post testing showed significant time effect for absolute (p=0.045), and substantial change for Mean Power (p=0.0606) for BIKE. There was a significant time effect in the shuttle test (p=0.008) for RUN. Substantial, non-significant improvements in performance were found in 10 m (p=0.261) 20 m time (p=0.307) and Peak Power (p=0.160) for BIKE. RPE was significantly higher in BIKE (p<0.001). Next-day soreness was significantly higher for RUN (p<0.001). Neither intervention negatively affected any measure. The cycle protocol may benefit sprint running performance. This form of training may mitigate the impact of high volumes of run-based training by decreasing eccentric loading thus reducing soreness. OFC may be useful for maintaining performance without adding mechanical stress on the lower body. https://journal.iusca.org/index.php/Journal/article/view/410sportconditioningtrainingopen-sporttesting
spellingShingle Timothy Rogers
Ryan Connell
Jarrod Free
Nicholas Gill
Kim Hebert-Losier
Martyn Beaven
The The Effect of an Off-Feet Conditioning Protocol on Performance and Training Load Response to Intermittent Sprint Training Compared to an Equivalent Running Based Protocol
International Journal of Strength and Conditioning
sport
conditioning
training
open-sport
testing
title The The Effect of an Off-Feet Conditioning Protocol on Performance and Training Load Response to Intermittent Sprint Training Compared to an Equivalent Running Based Protocol
title_full The The Effect of an Off-Feet Conditioning Protocol on Performance and Training Load Response to Intermittent Sprint Training Compared to an Equivalent Running Based Protocol
title_fullStr The The Effect of an Off-Feet Conditioning Protocol on Performance and Training Load Response to Intermittent Sprint Training Compared to an Equivalent Running Based Protocol
title_full_unstemmed The The Effect of an Off-Feet Conditioning Protocol on Performance and Training Load Response to Intermittent Sprint Training Compared to an Equivalent Running Based Protocol
title_short The The Effect of an Off-Feet Conditioning Protocol on Performance and Training Load Response to Intermittent Sprint Training Compared to an Equivalent Running Based Protocol
title_sort the effect of an off feet conditioning protocol on performance and training load response to intermittent sprint training compared to an equivalent running based protocol
topic sport
conditioning
training
open-sport
testing
url https://journal.iusca.org/index.php/Journal/article/view/410
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