MUSCLE FIBRE RECRUITMENT IN SPRINT START AND DIFFERENT JUMPS IN ADOLESCENT SPRINT ATHLETES

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify muscle fibre recruitment pattern during sprint start and jump tests in adolescent sprint athletes. A possible influence of several anthropometric parameters on this recruitment pattern was investigated. Sixty adolescent sprint athletes performed a sprint start and several jump tests with bilateral EMG recording of four lower limb muscles. EMG-signals were resolved into time and frequency using wavelet analysis. Age and muscularity did not influence fibre recruitment. In sprint start only the front leg M. Rectus Femoris generated higher frequencies compared to the rear leg. Compared to all other muscles, significant higher frequencies were found in the M. Gastrocnemius medialis during all movements. These results may lead to a better understanding of the value of using jump tests for talent detection in sprint athletes.