Biomechanics of sprint running. A review.

Understanding of biomechanical factors in sprint running is useful because of their critical value to performance. Some variables measured in distance running are also important in sprint running. Significant factors include: reaction time, technique, electromyographic (EMG) activity, force production, neural factors and muscle structure. Although various methodologies have been used, results are clear and conclusions can be made. The reaction time of good athletes is short, but it does not correlate with performance levels. Sprint technique has been well analysed during acceleration, constant velocity and deceleration of the velocity curve. At the beginning of the sprint run, it is importa…

Interaction between fascicle and tendinous tissues in short-contact stretch-shortening cycle exercise with varying eccentric intensities

The interaction between fascicle and tendinous tissues (TT) in short-contact drop jumps (DJ) with three different drop heights [low (Low), optimal (OP), and high (High)] was examined with 11 subjects. The ground reaction force (F z) and ankle and knee joint angles were measured together with real-time ultrasonography (fascicle length) and electromyographic activities of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles during the movement. With increasing drop height, the braking force and flight time increased from Low to OP ( P < 0.05). In High, the braking force increased but the flight time decreased compared with OP ( P < 0.05). During contact of Low and OP conditi…

Intensity- and muscle-specific fascicle behavior during human drop jumps.

The present study was designed to examine fascicle-tendon interaction in the synergistic medial gastrocnemius (MG) and soleus (Sol) muscles during drop jumps (DJ) performed from different drop heights (DH). Eight subjects performed unilateral DJ with maximal rebounds on a sledge apparatus from different DH. During the exercises, fascicle lengths (using ultrasonography) and electromyographic activities were recorded. The results showed that the fascicles of the MG and Sol muscles behaved differently during the contact phase, but the whole muscle-tendon unit and its tendinous tissue lengthened before shortening in both muscles. The Sol fascicles also lengthened before shortening during the g…

Stretch‐Shortening Cycle Fatigue

Stretch Reflex Responses Following Mechanical Stimulation in Power- and Endurance-Trained Athletes

The basic stretch reflex responses evoked by the mechanical stimuli were investigated among different athletic groups. The tests were performed by a special ankle ergometer, which created dorsiflexion velocities from 25 deg x s-1 to 115 deg x s-1 around the ankle joint. The EMG activity of soleus (SO), gastrocnemius (GA) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles was recorded with surface electrodes. In all subjects higher angular velocities caused higher stretch reflex responses. The endurance-trained athletes were more sensitive to the used stimuli than the power-trained athletes, because of their shorter latency times (43 +/- 7 ms vs 45 +/- 7 ms, p < 0.001 for the SO muscle and 40 +/- 8 ms vs 43…

Biomechanische Überlegungen über Stoßkräfte und Fußstabilität beim Laufen

The interaction between "man-shoe and surface" is presented as a model to discuss the complexity of human locomotion. Only if the physiological system "man" interacts positively with the physical requirements of shoe and surface quality running will become effective and economical. Especially during the early ground contact phase the hardness of the shoe construction determines the height of the vertical impact load. These adaptations have consequences in the emg amplitudes during the stretch activation phase of the contact. Comparing various jogging shoes with altered construction properties it can be shown that the "hardness" of the shoe material is well adapted by the variation in the em…

Optic fibre as a transducer of tendomuscular forces

Direct in vivo tendon force measurements open up new possibilities for understanding of muscle-tendon loads during natural locomotion. The present report presents a new optic fibre method for such applications. The method is based on light intensity modulation by mechanical modification of the geometric properties of the optic fibre. A special optic fibre with a plastic covering buffer and with a total diameter of either 265 microns or 500 microns was carefully prepared at both ends for receiving and transmitting light. The fibre was inserted through the rabbit common calcaneal tendon with a 20 gauge needle. By removing the needle the optic fibre remained in situ. Static loading demonstrate…

Mechanical and electrical behavior of human muscle during maximal concentric and eccentric contractions

The force-velocity relationships of human muscle (e.g., Asmussen, Hansen, and Lammert, 1965; Komi, 1973a) characterize the main mechanical differences in concentric and eccentric work. Some information also has been reported on the interrelationship between neural input and mechanical output during submaximal concentric and eccentric contractions. The slope of the regression line representing the relationship between IEMG and muscle tension is greater when muscle shortens at a constant velocity than when it lengthens at the same velocity (Bigland and Lippold, 1954). When recordings were made with a greater number of velocities, then a family of curves was obtained, a result which emphasizes…