LOWER LIMB JOINT KlNETlCS IN THE BLOCK PHASE OF ATHLETIC SPRINTING: RELATIONSHIP WITH PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between internal and external kinetics in the block phase of athletic sprinting. Ten male sprinters (100 m PB 10.50 * 0.27 s) performed five to six maximal effort block starts. External force (10000 Hz) and 30 kinematics (250 Hz) were collected and internal kinetics at the ankle, knee and hip joint were calculated using inverse dynamics. Results indicated no significant associations between joint kinetic variables and block performance, although horizontal force production in the front and rear block was significantly related to kinetic data at the front knee and ankle, and rear hip and ankle, respectively. The present study expands current knowledge of force production in the block phase and highlights that no joint is independently able to significantly determine block performance.