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The knee extensor moment arm is associated with performance in male sprinters

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Abstract

Purpose

Although large knee extensor torque contributes to superior sprint performance, previous findings have indicated that the quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA), a pivotal morphological regulator of knee extensor torque, is not correlated with performance in sprinters. We hypothesized that the knee extensor moment arm (MA), another main morphological regulator of knee extensor torque, may affect sprint performance. To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between knee extensor MA and sprint performance.

Methods

The quadriceps CSA and knee extensor MA in 32 well-trained male sprinters and 32 male non-sprinters were measured using magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

Knee extensor MA, but not quadriceps CSA, was greater in sprinters than in non-sprinters (P = 0.013). Moreover, knee extensor MA, but not the quadriceps CSA, was correlated with the personal best time in a 100-m race in sprinters (r = −0.614, P < 0.001). Furthermore, among 24 sprinters who participated in the 60-m sprint test, knee extensor MA was correlated with sprinting velocities in the acceleration (r = 0.717, P < 0.001) and maximum speed (r = 0.697, P < 0.001) phases.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrates that the knee extensor MA is greater in sprinters than in non-sprinters, and this morphological structure in sprinters is associated with sprint performance. Therefore, for the first time, we provided evidence that a greater knee extensor MA in sprinters may be an advantageous for achieving superior sprint performance.

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Abbreviations

CSA:

Cross-sectional area

MA:

Moment arm

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

VGRF:

Vertical ground reaction force

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all subjects who gave of their time and effort to participate in this study. This study was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (#15K16497 to T.S; #16H03238 to A.N; #26560361 and #15H03077 to T.I).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan

    Yuto Miyake, Tadashi Suga, Mitsuo Otsuka, Takahiro Tanaka, Jun Misaki, Shoma Kudo, Akinori Nagano & Tadao Isaka

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  1. Yuto Miyake
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  2. Tadashi Suga
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  3. Mitsuo Otsuka
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  4. Takahiro Tanaka
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  5. Jun Misaki
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  6. Shoma Kudo
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  7. Akinori Nagano
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  8. Tadao Isaka
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tadashi Suga.

Additional information

Communicated by Peter Krustrup.

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Miyake, Y., Suga, T., Otsuka, M. et al. The knee extensor moment arm is associated with performance in male sprinters. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 533–539 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3557-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3557-5

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