Abstract
It is commonly accepted that shot put performance is mainly determined by the ability of the lower body to produce power. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between shot put performance and triceps brachii muscle fiber type composition and strength capacity. Thirteen male physical education students were selected to participate in the study based upon their shot put performance after 5 weeks of shot put technique instruction. At the completion of this technique-instruction period, they performed the following tests: shot put with a 6-kg shot, isokinetic torque measurements of the elbow extensors at 0, 0.52, 1.04, 1.57, 2.09, 3.14, and 4.19 rad·s−1, maximal strength (1 RM) and explosive-throwing bench-press tests, one-arm seated shot put with 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-kg shot. Whole-body and dominant upper-arm bioimpedance measurements were used to estimate whole-body and upper-arm muscle mass. Muscle biopsy samples from the long head of the dominant triceps brachii were obtained and analyzed for fiber type composition with ATPase histochemistry. Shot put performance was significantly correlated with type II fiber area (r=0.70, P<0.01), one-arm seated shot put (range r=0.60 to r=0.79, P<0.05), elbow extensors' isokinetic torque (range r=0.65 to r=0.78, P<0.05), bench-press tests (r>0.86, P<0.01) and estimated arm muscle cross-sectional area (r=0.68, P<0.05). These results suggest that fiber type composition and the functional capacity of triceps brachii muscle (e.g., isokinetic torque) explain a part of shot put performance. The magnitude of the correlation coefficients between shot put and the upper-body power tests suggests that other body parts (e.g., lower extremities) may play a significant role in this event.
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Acknowledgements
We are thankful to Professor of Sport Biomechanics Dr Kostas Boudolos for the use of the Cybex II isokinetic device as well as useful discussions during the preparation of the measurements. We would also like to thank Professor of Physiology Dr Nikos Geladas for the use of the electrical bioimpedance apparatus. This work was partly supported by a grand from E.L.K.E. of the University of Athens to Professor G. Georgiadis. All experimental procedures used comply with Greek governmental laws for human subjects. This work has never been published anywhere else before, either completely or in part.
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Terzis, G., Georgiadis, G., Vassiliadou, E. et al. Relationship between shot put performance and triceps brachii fiber type composition and power production. Eur J Appl Physiol 90, 10–15 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0847-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0847-x