Strength and performance asymmetry during maximal velocity sprint running

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics of human movement
• Sports science research
• Athletic performance analysis

Background:

• Understanding athlete-specific asymmetry in sprint running is crucial for performance optimization.
• Kinematic and kinetic variables, alongside strength, contribute to sprint mechanics.
• Previous research has not fully elucidated the interplay between different asymmetry types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empirically investigate the interaction between kinematic, kinetic, and strength asymmetry in elite sprinters.
• To compare asymmetry profiles across different tasks (sprinting and jumping).
• To determine the relationship between overall asymmetry and sprint performance.

Main Methods:

• Collected bilateral ground reaction force and kinematic data during maximal velocity sprinting (mean 9.05 m/s).
• Acquired bilateral ground reaction force data during maximal effort squat jumps.
• Utilized novel composite asymmetry scores to analyze interactions between kinematic and kinetic asymmetry.

Main Results:

• Kinetic variables exhibited the largest asymmetry (>90%), while kinematic variables showed greater asymmetry than step characteristics (6.68% vs. 1.68%).
• All analyzed kinematic and kinetic variables displayed asymmetry during sprint trials.
• No significant relationship was found between overall athlete asymmetry and sprint performance.

Conclusions:

• Sprint asymmetry is joint and task-specific, not indicative of general limb dominance.
• Ankle joint asymmetry during sprinting correlates positively with peak vertical force and power during jumping.
• Compensatory kinetic mechanisms may mitigate the impact of biological or strength asymmetry on sprint performance.