Re: Muscle Fascicle Length and Sprint Performance

[Guest guest]

Does the incresed length of the studied fascicle result because of training

protocols for sprinters versus long distance or are the sprinter born with

longer fascicle thus become better sprinters?

Charlie Newkerk, C.S.C.S.

Muscle Fascicle Length and Sprint Performance

> Here are some interesting articles on muscle fascicle length and Sprint

> Performance.

>

> Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000 Jun;32(6):1125-9

>

> Fascicle length of leg muscles is greater in sprinters than distance

> runners.

>

> Abe T, Kumagai K, Brechue WF.

>

> Dept of Exercise and Sport Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University,

> Hachioji, Japan.

>

> PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare architectural

> characteristics of leg muscles of sprinters and distance runners. METHODS:

> Skeletal muscle architectural characteristics were studied in 23 elite

male

> 100-m sprinters (SPR, 10.0-10.9 s for 100 m), 24 elite male distance

runners

> (DR, 13.5-14.5 min for 5000 m), and 24 untrained male controls. Fascicle

> pennation angle and isolated muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis and

> gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis muscles were measured in vivo by

> ultrasound, and fascicle length was estimated.

>

> RESULTS: Standing height and upper and lower limb lengths were similar

among the groups.

> Body weight was significantly greater in SPR than in either DR or

controls, which were

> similar. Muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius

medialis

> and lateralis muscles was significantly greater in SPR than in either DR

or

> controls, which were similar. In all muscles, pennation angle was similar

> between SPR and controls, but less than DR. Fascicle length of the vastus

> lateralis muscle (absolute and relative to limb length) was greatest in

SPR

> and least in DR with control values being between the athlete groups.

> Fascicle length of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle (absolute and

relative

> to limb length) was greater in SPR than in either DR or controls, which

were

> similar. Fascicle length of the gastrocnemius lateralis muscle (absolute

and

> relative to limb length) was significantly greater in SPR than DR.

Absolute

> fascicle length in gastrocnemius lateralis muscle was similar between DR

and

> controls; however, relative to limb length DR was significantly less.

>

> CONCLUSION: Greater fascicle length and lesser pennation angle observed in

> leg muscles of SPR, compared with DR, would appear to favor shortening

> velocity as required for greater running speed.

>

> -----------

>

> J Appl Physiol 2000 Mar;88(3):811-6

>

> Sprint performance is related to muscle fascicle length in male 100-m

> sprinters.

>

> Kumagai K, Abe T, Brechue WF, Ryushi T, Takano S, Mizuno M.

>

> Dept of Exercise and Sport Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University,

> Hachioji, Tokyo 192-03, Japan.

>

> The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between

muscle

> fascicle length and sprint running performance in 37 male 100-m sprinters.

> The sample was divided into two performance groups by the personal-best

> 100-m time: 10.00-10.90 s (S10; n = 22) and 11.00-11.70 s (S11; n = 15).

> Muscle thickness and fascicle pennation angle of the vastus lateralis and

> gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis muscles were measured by B-mode

> ultrasonography, and fascicle length was estimated. Standing height, body

> weight, and leg length were similar between groups.

>

> Muscle thickness was similar between groups for vastus lateralis and

gastrocnemius

> medialis, but S10 had a significantly greater gastrocnemius lateralis

muscle thickness.

> S10 also had a greater muscle thickness in the upper portion of the thigh,

> which, given similar limb lengths, demonstrates an altered " muscle shape. "

> Pennation angle was always less in S10 than in S11. In all muscles, S10

had

> significantly greater fascicle length than did S11, which significantly

> correlated with 100-m best performance (r values from -0.40 to -0.57). It

is

> concluded that longer fascicle length is associated with greater sprinting

> performance.

>

> Full Text Article is available at:

>

> http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/88/3/811

>

> --------------

>

> J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci 2001 Mar;20(2):141-7

>

> Relationship between sprint performance and muscle fascicle length in

female

> sprinters.

>

> Abe T, Fukashiro S, Harada Y, Kawamoto K.

>

> Dept of Exercise and Sport Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University.

>

> The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between

sprint

> performance and architectural characteristics of leg muscles in 26 female

> 100-m sprinters. Pennation angle and muscle thickness of the vastus

> lateralis (VL) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and lateralis (GL) muscles

> were measured by B-mode ultrasonography, and fascicle length was

estimated.

>

> Sprinters had a significantly lower VL pennation angle, but GM and GL

> pennation angle was similar between sprinters and female control subjects

(N

> = 22). There was no significant correlation between pennation angle and

> 100-m personal best performance. Sprinters had significantly greater

> absolute fascicle length in VL and GL than controls, which significantly

> correlated to 100-m best-record (r = -0.51 and r = -0.44, respectively).

> Relative fascicle length (VL and GL) were also significantly greater in

> sprinters than controls. However, there were no significant correlation

> between relative fascicle length and 100-m best-record (r = -0.36 and r =

> -0.29, respectively). No relationship was found between the sprint

> performance and fat-free mass (r = -0.26) or body mass index (r = -0.03).

> However, there was a significant correlation between percent (%) body fat

> and 100-m best-record (r = 0.62). Adjusting the confounding effect

> of % fat, significant correlations were seen between relative fascicle

> length and 100-m best-record (VL; r = -0.39 and GL; r = -0.40). Absolute

and

> relative fascicle length were similar in elite female sprinters compared

> with previous reported values for elite male sprinters (Kumagai et al.,

> 2000).

>

> It was concluded that longer fascicle length is associated with

> greater sprinting performance in sprinters, but there is no gender

> differences in fascicle length for elite sprinters.

>

> Any Comments?

>

> Tom Green, CSCS

> USATF Level II Certified Coach- Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays

> St. Louis, MO

>

>

>

>

> Modify or cancel your subscription here:

>

> http://groups.yahoo.com/mygroups

>

> Don't forget to sign all letters with full name and city of residence if

you

> wish them to be published!

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Based on what my neuromuscular ex phys prof taught us, the increased

length of the fascicle was determined by genetics. I would imagine

that the only time that fascicle length would change, would be during

times of growth (height, not hypertrophy). Of course, if I had been

taught by another professor, I might have been told something

different...:-)

Best regards,

Habeeb Ahsan

Mississauga, ON, Canada

>

> Does the incresed length of the studied fascicle result because of

training

> protocols for sprinters versus long distance or are the sprinter

born with

> longer fascicle thus become better sprinters?

> Charlie Newkerk, C.S.C.S.

>

> Muscle Fascicle Length and Sprint

Performance

>

>

> > Here are some interesting articles on muscle fascicle length and

Sprint

> > Performance.

> >

> > Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000 Jun;32(6):1125-9

> >

> > Fascicle length of leg muscles is greater in sprinters than

distance

> > runners.

> >

> > Abe T, Kumagai K, Brechue WF.

> >

> > Dept of Exercise and Sport Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University,

> > Hachioji, Japan.

> >

> > PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare architectural

> > characteristics of leg muscles of sprinters and distance runners.

METHODS:

> > Skeletal muscle architectural characteristics were studied in 23

elite

> male

> > 100-m sprinters (SPR, 10.0-10.9 s for 100 m), 24 elite male

distance

> runners

> > (DR, 13.5-14.5 min for 5000 m), and 24 untrained male controls.

Fascicle

> > pennation angle and isolated muscle thickness of the vastus

lateralis and

> > gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis muscles were measured in

vivo by

> > ultrasound, and fascicle length was estimated.

> >

> > RESULTS: Standing height and upper and lower limb lengths were

similar

> among the groups.

> > Body weight was significantly greater in SPR than in either DR or

> controls, which were

> > similar. Muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis and

gastrocnemius

> medialis

> > and lateralis muscles was significantly greater in SPR than in

either DR

> or

> > controls, which were similar. In all muscles, pennation angle was

similar

> > between SPR and controls, but less than DR. Fascicle length of

the vastus

> > lateralis muscle (absolute and relative to limb length) was

greatest in

> SPR

> > and least in DR with control values being between the athlete

groups.

> > Fascicle length of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle (absolute and

> relative

> > to limb length) was greater in SPR than in either DR or controls,

which

> were

> > similar. Fascicle length of the gastrocnemius lateralis muscle

(absolute

> and

> > relative to limb length) was significantly greater in SPR than DR.

> Absolute

> > fascicle length in gastrocnemius lateralis muscle was similar

between DR

> and

> > controls; however, relative to limb length DR was significantly

less.

> >

> > CONCLUSION: Greater fascicle length and lesser pennation angle

observed in

> > leg muscles of SPR, compared with DR, would appear to favor

shortening

> > velocity as required for greater running speed.

> >

> > -----------

> >

> > J Appl Physiol 2000 Mar;88(3):811-6

> >

> > Sprint performance is related to muscle fascicle length in male

100-m

> > sprinters.

> >

> > Kumagai K, Abe T, Brechue WF, Ryushi T, Takano S, Mizuno M.

> >

> > Dept of Exercise and Sport Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University,

> > Hachioji, Tokyo 192-03, Japan.

> >

> > The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship

between

> muscle

> > fascicle length and sprint running performance in 37 male 100-m

sprinters.

> > The sample was divided into two performance groups by the

personal-best

> > 100-m time: 10.00-10.90 s (S10; n = 22) and 11.00-11.70 s (S11; n

= 15).

> > Muscle thickness and fascicle pennation angle of the vastus

lateralis and

> > gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis muscles were measured by B-

mode

> > ultrasonography, and fascicle length was estimated. Standing

height, body

> > weight, and leg length were similar between groups.

> >

> > Muscle thickness was similar between groups for vastus lateralis

and

> gastrocnemius

> > medialis, but S10 had a significantly greater gastrocnemius

lateralis

> muscle thickness.

> > S10 also had a greater muscle thickness in the upper portion of

the thigh,

> > which, given similar limb lengths, demonstrates an

altered " muscle shape. "

> > Pennation angle was always less in S10 than in S11. In all

muscles, S10

> had

> > significantly greater fascicle length than did S11, which

significantly

> > correlated with 100-m best performance (r values from -0.40 to -

0.57). It

> is

> > concluded that longer fascicle length is associated with greater

sprinting

> > performance.

> >

> > Full Text Article is available at:

> >

> > http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/88/3/811

> >

> > --------------

> >

> > J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci 2001 Mar;20(2):141-7

> >

> > Relationship between sprint performance and muscle fascicle

length in

> female

> > sprinters.

> >

> > Abe T, Fukashiro S, Harada Y, Kawamoto K.

> >

> > Dept of Exercise and Sport Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University.

> >

> > The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship

between

> sprint

> > performance and architectural characteristics of leg muscles in

26 female

> > 100-m sprinters. Pennation angle and muscle thickness of the

vastus

> > lateralis (VL) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and lateralis (GL)

muscles

> > were measured by B-mode ultrasonography, and fascicle length was

> estimated.

> >

> > Sprinters had a significantly lower VL pennation angle, but GM

and GL

> > pennation angle was similar between sprinters and female control

subjects

> (N

> > = 22). There was no significant correlation between pennation

angle and

> > 100-m personal best performance. Sprinters had significantly

greater

> > absolute fascicle length in VL and GL than controls, which

significantly

> > correlated to 100-m best-record (r = -0.51 and r = -0.44,

respectively).

> > Relative fascicle length (VL and GL) were also significantly

greater in

> > sprinters than controls. However, there were no significant

correlation

> > between relative fascicle length and 100-m best-record (r = -0.36

and r =

> > -0.29, respectively). No relationship was found between the sprint

> > performance and fat-free mass (r = -0.26) or body mass index (r

= -0.03).

> > However, there was a significant correlation between percent (%)

body fat

> > and 100-m best-record (r = 0.62). Adjusting the confounding effect

> > of % fat, significant correlations were seen between relative

fascicle

> > length and 100-m best-record (VL; r = -0.39 and GL; r = -0.40).

Absolute

> and

> > relative fascicle length were similar in elite female sprinters

compared

> > with previous reported values for elite male sprinters (Kumagai

et al.,

> > 2000).

> >

> > It was concluded that longer fascicle length is associated with

> > greater sprinting performance in sprinters, but there is no gender

> > differences in fascicle length for elite sprinters.

> >

> > Any Comments?

> >

> > Tom Green, CSCS

> > USATF Level II Certified Coach- Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays

> > St. Louis, MO

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Modify or cancel your subscription here:

> >

> > http://groups.yahoo.com/mygroups

> >

> > Don't forget to sign all letters with full name and city of

residence if

> you

> > wish them to be published!

> >

> >

> >

> >