Comparative Effects of Ankle Weights Versus Weighted Vest on Sprint Acceleration Among Sprinters

Wong, Yew Hao (2026) Comparative Effects of Ankle Weights Versus Weighted Vest on Sprint Acceleration Among Sprinters. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

Post-Activation Potentiation (PAP) is a short-term performance enhancement strategy that temporarily improves muscular output following a high-intensity conditioning activity. This study examined the comparative effects of ankle weights (AWG) and weighted vest (WVG), each standardised to 10 % of body mass, on sprint acceleration among trained male sprinters. A randomised controlled trail design was adopted with 21 athletes aged 18 to 24 years, randomly allocated into AWG, WVG, or control groups (CG). Over six weeks, the intervention groups completed a twice-weekly PAP protocol consisting of bounding drills, while control group continued regular sprint training. Sprint performance was measured at 10 m, 15 m, 20 m using electronic timing gates during pre- and post-test. Results indicated significant improvements in overall sprint time for both AWG and WVG compared to the control (p = 0.02), with AWG producing the greatest reduction in sprint time ( -0.105 s) and WVG achieving slightly smaller but meaningful improvements (-0.089 s), while the control group showed negligible change (+ 0.004 s). Distance-specific analysis revealed significant enhancement at 15 m (p = 0.035), reflecting mid-acceleration improvements, whereas changes at 10 m (p = 0.054) showed only a trend toward improvements and times at 20 m (p = 0.807) remained unchanged. These findings suggest that ankle weights are particularly beneficial for explosive starts and early acceleration due to their distal loading effects on the lower limbs, while weighted vests provide more stable improvements across acceleration phases without disrupting sprint mechanics. Wearable resistance represents as effective PAP strategy for enhancing sprint acceleration, with resistance placement plating a critical role in shaping performance outcomes