Rogers, TimothyConnell, RyanFree, JarrodGill, Nicholas D.Hebert-Losier, KimBeaven, Christopher Martyn2026-01-122026-01-122025Rogers, T., Connell, R., Free, J., Gill, N., Hebert-Losier, K., & Beaven, C. (2025). The effect of an off-feet conditioning protocol on performance and training load response to intermittent sprint training compared to an equivalent running based protocol. International Journal of Strength and Conditioning, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v5i1.4102634-2235https://hdl.handle.net/10289/17863Training for maximal intensity actions can lead to muscle damage, muscle soreness, and neuromuscular fatigue if not carefully managed.  Due to this potential impact, coaches sometimes look to off-feet conditioning (OFC) as an alternative. A training intervention compared an OFC protocol using cycle ergometer sprints with an equivalent running protocol. Seventeen (17) participants volunteered and completed the study. Following baseline testing participants were divided into a cycle (BIKE) or shuttle (RUN) group. Training intervention was 10-12 6 s sprint efforts with 80-seconds recovery.  Post testing showed significant time effect for absolute (p=0.045), and substantial change for Mean Power (p=0.0606) for BIKE. There was a significant time effect in the shuttle test (p=0.008) for RUN. Substantial, non-significant improvements in performance were found in 10 m (p=0.261) 20 m time (p=0.307) and Peak Power (p=0.160) for BIKE. RPE was significantly higher in BIKE (p<0.001). Next-day soreness was significantly higher for RUN (p<0.001). Neither intervention negatively affected any measure. The cycle protocol may benefit sprint running performance. This form of training may mitigate the impact of high volumes of run-based training by decreasing eccentric loading thus reducing soreness. OFC may be useful for maintaining performance without adding mechanical stress on the lower body.enAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/sportconditioningtrainingopen-sporttestingJournal Article10.47206/ijsc.v5i1.4102634-22354201 Allied Health and Rehabilitation Science42 Health Sciences4207 Sports Science and Exercise