Force–velocity profile in sprinting: sex effect

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Galantine, Paul | Sudlow, Anthony | Peyrot, Nicolas | Vercruyssen, Fabrice | Bélard, Chrystal | Dalleau, Georges | Duché, Pascale

Edité par CCSD ; Springer Verlag -

International audience. The ability to produce muscle power during sprint acceleration is a major determinant of physical performance. The comparison of the force–velocity (F–v: theoretical maximal force, F0; velocity, v0 and maximal power output, Pmax) profile between men and women has attracted little attention. Most studies of sex differences have failed to apply a scaling ratio when reporting data. The present study investigated the sex effect on the F–v profile using an allometric model applied with body mass (BM), fat-free mass (FFM), fat-free mass of the lower limb (FFMLL), cross-sectional area (CSA) and leg length (LL) to mechanical parameters. Thirty students (15 men, 15 women) participated. Raw velocity–time data for three maximal 35 m sprints were measured with a radar. Mechanical parameters of the F–v relationship were calculated from the modelling of the velocity–time curve. When F0 and Pmax were allometrically scaled with BM (p = 0.538; ES = 0.23) and FFM (p = 0.176; ES = 0.51), there were no significant differences between men and women. However, when the allometric model was applied to Pmax with FFMLL (p = 0.015; ES = 0.52), F0 with CSA (p = 0.016; ES = 0.93) and v0 with LL (p ≤ 0.001; ES = 1.98) differences between men and women persisted. FFM explained 83% of the sex differences in the F–v profile (p ≤ 0.001). After applying an allometric model, sex differences in the F–v profile are explained by other factors than body dimensions (i.e., physiological qualitative differences).

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