Abstract

In this investigation on the relationships between muscle fiber characteristics, sprinting and jumping, 25 male sprinters (100 m 10.2-11.8s) were used as the subjects. Needle biopsy samples were taken from the m. vastus lateralis for the calculation of the distribution and relative area of the fast twitch (FT) and slow twitch (ST) fibers. Maximal running velocity over 30 m, average stride rate, and average stride length were analyzed with video system. Runs up to 2.5 m were analyzed from film (100 Hz) with the computer system. Jumping performances were measured on a force plattform. The results showed that the percentage of FT fibers correlated positively and significantly with maximal velocity in start and in the phase of maximal speed with stride rate and negatively with time for 100 m record. It was concluded that muscle fiber distribution strongly affects maximal running velocity and stride rate. FT fibers were relatively small for top sprinting suggesting poor training effects on those fibers. The drop jump may prove useful in testing the speed strength component for sprinters. Verf.-Referat