How to Sprint Faster
Study Shows All College Athletes Tested Increased Their Sprint Speed and Vertical Jump Height with VKTRY Insoles
Researchers at the Human Performance Laboratory at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) conducted a year-long study on 28 college football players to answer one question: Would wearing a pair of carbon fiber VKTRY Insoles affect the athletes’ 40-yard sprint speed and vertical jump height? According to the study’s results, the answer is yes. Researchers in this PhD-led study found that every athlete tested sprinted faster and jumped higher while wearing a pair of VKTRY Insoles.
“Performance and biomechanical data were measured during both vertical jump and sprint testing. The improvement in performance with the VKTRY Insole is statistically significant in all biomechanical variables tested.”
– Dr. Robert W. Gregory, Ph.D., Professor at Southern Connecticut State University, the Human Performance Lab.
Approach to the Study
To test this, researchers had each athlete participate in four rounds of vertical jump testing and four rounds of 40-yard sprint testing, seven days apart. The athletes were given four different pairs of carbon fiber insoles–one to wear during each round of the vertical jump and sprint testing–so researchers could see which of the carbon fiber insoles, if any, enhanced the athletes’ athletic performance. Three out of the four pairs given were non-customized carbon fiber insoles, meaning that the stiffness of the carbon fiber was not tailored to the athlete’s weight. One of the four pairs given was a pair of customized VKTRY Insoles, meaning that the stiffness of the carbon fiber was tailored to the athlete’s weight. This was a blind study, so the athletes did not know which insole was the customized VKTRY Insole and vice versa.
How VKTRY Insoles Work: The Science Explained
Every pair of VKTRY Insoles contains a full-length baseplate made of 100% aerospace-grade carbon fiber–one of the world’s highest-quality materials known for its exceptional strength, durability, and firmness while remaining ultra-lightweight. It’s typically used in aerospace, as a superior replacement for heavier aluminum or other composite materials, to construct aircraft and rocket components. VKTRY, however, incorporated it into an insole because of its ability to store and return energy, and ultimately, increase athletic performance.
“VKTRY Insoles are impactful in the reduction of injuries and in the improvement of athletic performance. The VK is truly the only insole I have ever seen bridge both fields!”
– Mike Barwis, Head of Sports Science & Human Performance for the NY Mets & Detroit Red Wings
Every pair of VKTRY Insoles is customized, meaning that the size and stiffness of the carbon fiber baseplate are determined by the athlete’s weight, shoe size, and sport. VKTRY Insoles are also shaped to match the natural curvature of the foot, with only the toe and heel touching the ground. This shape, combined with the personalized carbon fiber baseplate, allows the VK to store potential energy like a spring. As the athlete plants their foot, and then raises their heel, the VK stores potential energy. Then, as the athlete’s foot leaves the ground to run or jump, the stiffness of the carbon fiber baseplate allows it to immediately snap back to its natural shape, which converts that stored potential energy into kinetic energy. This results in an increased ground force, meaning that the athlete puts a higher amount of force into the ground, which causes a propulsive effect that helps the athlete improve sprint speed and increase vertical jump.
Conclusions Drawn From the Study
Study participants experienced this propulsive effect. The study reports that each athlete saw a “statistically significant” improvement in jump height and sprint speed while wearing a pair of customized VKTRY Insoles. On average, the athletes:
- Jumped 1.1 inches higher
- Ran .02 seconds faster in their 10-yard split time
- Ran .03 seconds faster in their 20 to 40-yard split time
- And saw a 9.3% increase in overall explosiveness.
Explosiveness refers to the rate of force development (RFD), which is how fast an athlete can put force into the ground. The top 30% of participants:
- Jumped 2.54 inches higher
- Ran .07 seconds faster in their 10-yard split time
- And ran .08 seconds faster in their 20 to 40-yard split time.
According to the study, the athletes saw no statistically significant increase in their vertical jump height or sprint speed while wearing any of the three non-customized carbon fiber insoles. The athletes only saw a statistically significant improvement in sprint speed and jump height while wearing a customized pair of VKTRY Insoles, a true sports insole innovation.
