Sledge Machine Resistance Exercise And Its Impact On Sprint And Strength Performance Of Univeristy Of Lahore Rugby Players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate male rugby players at the University of Lahore's sprint and strength performance under an eight-week Sledge machine resistance training programme.Thirty participants between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five were randomly assigned to a control group and an experimental group in equal measure.   Both the one-repetition maximum (1RM) squat test and the 30-meter sprint test were the main outcome measures; both are accurate markers of sprinting and strength performance.   Whereas the control group followed their normal training schedule, the experimental group engaged in a methodical intervention of four 40-minute sessions of moderate-intensity interval training (70–80% of maximum heart rate) on a Sledge machine each week.   The results showed clear improvements in the experimental group: sprint speeds dropped from a mean of 4.5587 to 4.4633 seconds (p = 0.000) and 1RM squat performance rose from a mean of 4.6127 to 4.2040 units (p = 0.000).   These gains highlight enhanced activation of fast-twitch muscle fibers, better efficiency of the anaerobic energy system, and lower body strength arising from the specificity and neuromuscular adaptations the intervention encourages.  The randomized controlled trial design, controlled variables, and lack of missing data enhance its validity.  The findings are constrained by the restricted sample size, brief length, and exclusion of female participants.  This study highlights the efficacy of Sledge machine resistance workouts in improving rugby performance and establishes a basis for incorporating such specialized training into sport-specific conditioning regimens.  Subsequent research should investigate bigger, more heterogeneous groups, extended intervention periods, and comparisons with various resistance training techniques to enhance the generalizability of these results.

Keywords: Sledge machine, Resistance Training, lower body strength.