Low-to Correlations Between Repeated Sprint Ability and Aerobic Capacity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide meta-analytic estimates of the relationships between repeated sprint ability (RSA) outputs (total sprint time [TST] and fatigue scores) and aerobic capacity indicators (V?O-2max, the covered distance in the endurance shuttle run test [SRTdistance], and the velocity at the anaerobic lactate threshold [ALT(velocity)]). To identify potential studies for inclusion, a search strategy was implemented on MEDLINE (through PubMed) and Web of Science. The correlation coefficients between RSA outputs and aerobic capacity indicators were extracted from the individual studies to reveal a pooled correlation. After the identification of studies providing inclusion criteria, 45 studies consisting of 1,488 accumulated participants were included. Meta-analysis showed the positive moderate relationships between TST and V?O-2max (pooled r = 0.444, p < 0.001), TST and SRTdistance (pooled r = 0.465, p < 0.001), TST and ALT(velocity) (pooled r = 0.527, p < 0.001), RSA fatigue score and V?O-2max (pooled r = 0.449, p < 0.001), and RSA fatigue score and ALT(velocity) (pooled r = 0.460, p < 0.001), which showed a low positive relationship between RSA fatigue score and SRTdistance (pooled r = 0.305, p = 0.029). This study showed pooled correlations between RSA outputs and practical aerobic capacity indicators. However, contrary to popular belief that there were stronger relationships, these relationships were low to moderate.