Microdosing Sprint Distribution as an Alternative to Achieve Better Sprint Performance in Field Hockey Players
Sensors January 20, 2023 Víctor Cuadrado-Peñafiel, Adrián Castaño-Zambudio, Luis Manuel Martínez-Aranda et al.
Over six weeks, distributing sprint training in smaller, more frequent doses (microdosing) was compared to traditional twice-weekly sessions in twenty male professional field hockey players. Both groups completed the same total sprint volume. Sprint performance and horizontal force-velocity profiles were measured before and after the intervention. No significant differences in sprint times or mechanical variables were found between the groups after training. However, within the microdosing group, significant improvements occurred in maximal theoretical horizontal force, maximal power, and sprint times from 5 to 25 meters, driven by increased stride length and decreased stride frequency at maximal velocity. Microdosing training load appears an effective and efficient sprint training method for team sports.