How Resisted Sprint Training Affect Elite Female Sprinters
- Myontec
- Oct 9
- 2 min read
Insights from Recent Research Using Myontec shorts in Sprint Training
Resisted sprint training (RST) - adding external resistance during sprints - has become a popular method to enhance speed and strength in athletes. But how does this training affect muscle activity, especially in elite athletes? Recent research has shed light on this question, utilizing advanced textile EMG technology from Myontec.
A recent study published in Sports journal explored this question by examining how different external loads impact neuromuscular responses during maximal sprinting. In this study, ten elite female sprinters performed maximum effort 30 meter sprints under various loads (5%, 10%, and 15% of body weight).
It was important to measure muscle load (internal load) instead of external load (GPS, motion sensor or video based) to identify accurate differences in field training. Myontec’s EMG shorts, which embedded textile electrodes allowing continuous, was used to collect unobtrusive measurement of muscle activity during dynamic sprinting.
Results showed that increasing resistance significantly slowed sprint times—performance declined systematically with heavier loads. But more interestingly, Myontec EMG data revealed that muscle activation patterns remained remarkably stable, especially in crucial muscles groups like the quadriceps and hamstrings, across all conditions. This indicates that these athletes maintain highly consistent neuromuscular recruitment even when sprinting with added resistance, highlighting their advanced motor control and neuromuscular adaptation.
The EMG measurements also identified a trend toward increased activity in gluteus muscles at higher loads, suggesting this muscle group may play a more prominent role as resistance increases. Furthermore, Myontec EMG shorts provided high-quality, real-time data with minimal noise, confirming their effectiveness for studying muscle behavior during intense movement.
From a practical standpoint, these insights suggest that lightweight resistance (up to 15% of body weight) can effectively activate key posterior chain muscles without disturbing the athletes’ sprinting technique. Coaches can therefore employ small doses of resisted sprints, monitored via EMG, to target specific muscles for strength and speed gains - especially in elite athletes who already have optimized neuromuscular coordination.
In conclusion, the use of Myontec’s textile EMG shorts allows precise, non-intrusive monitoring of muscle activity during sprinting. The findings affirm that elite athletes can sustain consistent neuromuscular patterns under moderate resistance, making EMG monitored resisted training a valuable tool for optimizing performance and reducing injury risk.
Read the full study of Neuromuscular and Performance Responses to Resisted Sprint Loads in Elite Female Sprinters by Bartosz-Jeffries M. et al, September 2025 in Sports journal https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/9/327
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