This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of flywheel (FW) resistance training on jump performance in athletes and nonathletes. Four electronic databases were searched (PubMed, Cochrane Database, Web of Science, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi) for studies published on or before November 18, 2023. Reports on randomized controlled trials of FW resistance training in healthy untrained people and athletes were included for analysis. Comparisons were made between FW resistance training and non-exercise controls or traditional resistance training. The primary outcome was defined as jump performance (countermovement jump, squat jump, and drop jump) and secondary outcomes were muscular strength and mass. The standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated for quantitative indices. A random-effects model was used for pooling. Of the 167 studies identified, 27 satisfied the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of jump performance revealed the superiority of FW resistance training to non-exercise controls (SMD 0.89, 95% CI: 0.54, 1.25). The subgroup analysis showed that FW training improves jump performance in both athletes and non-athletes. In addition, the effect of FW training on CMJ was more effective than resistance training in athletes only (P=0.05). These results indicate that FW resistance training is an effective intervention for improving jump performance.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematics and kinetics of pelvic rotation in mini-hurdle sprint, including regulated step length and increased step frequency, by comparing mini-hurdle sprint to normal sprint. Twelve male sprinters performed a 60 m sprint with mini-hurdles from a standing start and a 60 m regular sprint from a crouching start. Three-dimensional motion analysis was performed to investigate the kinematics and kinetics of pelvic rotation in the mini-hurdle sprint. The step frequency was significantly higher, and the step length was significantly lower in the mini-hurdle sprint than in the normal sprint. The pelvic rotation angle at toe-off and displacement of the pelvic forward rotation toward free leg side angle in the stance phase were significantly greater in the mini-hurdle sprint than in the normal sprint. The integrated contributory component of the lumbosacral joint torsion angular impulse was significantly greater during the stance phase and smaller during the flight phase in the mini-hurdle sprint than in the normal sprint.

Overall, the mini-hurdle sprint exerted the free leg side lumbosacral joint torsional torque was greater during the stance phase and smaller during the flight phase compared to the normal sprint, resulting in the greater forward rotation on the pelvis of the stance leg side toward the free leg side prior to toe-off and contributing to faster recovery leg motion to increase high step frequency.