Article

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether sprint performance is
related to lower leg musculoskeletal geometry within a homogeneous group of
highly trained 100-m sprinters. Using a cluster analysis, eighteen male sprinters
were divided into two groups based on their personal best (fast: N=11,
10.30+/-0.07s; slow: N=7, 10.70+/-0.08s). Calf muscular fascicle arrangement and
Achilles tendon moment arms (calculated by the gradient of tendon excursion
versus ankle joint angle) were analyzed for each athlete using ultrasonography.
Achilles tendon moment arm, foot and ankle skeletal geometry, fascicle
arrangement as well as the ratio of fascicle length to Achilles tendon moment arm
showed no significant (p>0.05) correlation with sprint performance, nor were
there any differences in the analyzed musculoskeletal parameters between the fast
and slow sprinter group. Our findings provide evidence that differences in sprint
ability in world-class athletes are not a result of differences in the
geometrical design of the lower leg even when considering both skeletal and muscular components.
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Langue : ANGLAIS