Relationship Between Force-Velocity Characteristics and Sprint Performance in Elite Sprinters: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Human Movement

Background:

• Sprinting involves complex mechanisms crucial for maximal speed.
• Hamstring muscle strength, particularly rate of torque development (RTD), is vital for sprint propulsion and stabilization.
• Understanding the relationship between hamstring RTD and sprint mechanics can inform performance enhancement strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between hamstring rate of torque development (RTD) and sprint mechanical variables in elite sprinters.
• To analyze the correlation between hamstring RTD (100 and 200 ms) and maximal power output (Pmax), maximal theoretical velocity (V0), and maximal horizontal force production (F0).

Main Methods:

• A cohort of five elite sprinters (4 male, 1 female) participated in the study.
• Hamstring strength tests were conducted using a portable dynamometer to measure RTD.
• Sprint performance variables were collected using the My Sprint® application, with linear regression analysis applied.

Main Results:

• No significant correlations were found between hamstring RTD (100 and 200 ms) and sprint biomechanical variables (Pmax, V0, F0).
• Trends suggested potential correlations for the dominant leg's RTD with V0 and Pmax, and for the non-dominant leg's RTD with Pmax and F0, though not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• Hamstring rate of torque development (RTD) does not show a significant correlation with sprint biomechanical variables in elite sprinters.
• Further research is recommended to explore the observed trends and clarify the relationship between hamstring strength and sprint performance.