LAUSR

PURPOSE Wearing a weighted vest (WV) during daily living and training can enhance jump and sprint performance, however, studies examining the efficacy of this method in female populations is limited. This study examined the effect of wearing a WV during daily living and training on countermovement jump (CMJ), change-of-direction (CoD), and sprint performance. METHODS Trained females were separated into intervention (n=9) and control (n=10) groups. The intervention group wore WVs of ~8% body mass 4 d/wk, 8 h/day (32 h/wk total), and 3 training sessions per week for the first 3 weeks. Subsequently, 3 weeks of regular training without WV stimulus was completed. The control group received no intervention and continued normal training for 6 weeks. Average and best performance was assessed on the single CMJ, four continuous CMJ (4CMJ), t-test CoD drill, and a 25 m sprint at baseline, week 3, and week 6. RESULTS No significant interactions or group effects were found. However, significant time main effects revealed increases in average rate of force development during the CMJ from baseline to week 3 (P=.048) and week 6 (P=.013), while peak vertical ground reaction force increased during 4CMJ from baseline to week 3 (P=.048) and week 6 (P=.025) for both groups. CONCLUSIONS The lower relative WV load used in this study failed to elicit significant improvements in jump and sprint performance in comparison to routine training, or that have been found in past investigations with elite male athletes completing high intensity performance tasks with greater WV loads.