Ankle joint mechanics and foot proportions differ between human sprinters and non-sprinters

Recent studies of sprinters and distance runners have suggested that variations in human foot proportions and plantarflexor muscle moment arm correspond to the level of sprint performance or running economy. Less clear, however, is whether differences in muscle moment arm are mediated by altered ten...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 2012-05, Vol.279 (1735), p.2018-2024
Main Authors: Baxter, Josh R., Novack, Thomas A., Van Werkhoven, Herman, Pennell, David R., Piazza, Stephen J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Achilles tendon
Ankle
Ankle Joint - physiology
Arm
Biomechanical Phenomena
Bones
Centre Of Rotation
Computer Simulation
Feet
Foot - anatomy & histology
Foot - physiology
Foot bones
Humans
Joints
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Moment Arm
Muscle Contraction
Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology
Muscle, Skeletal - physiology
Muscles
Plantarflexor
Running
Sprinting
Tendons
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Summary:Recent studies of sprinters and distance runners have suggested that variations in human foot proportions and plantarflexor muscle moment arm correspond to the level of sprint performance or running economy. Less clear, however, is whether differences in muscle moment arm are mediated by altered tendon paths or by variation in the centre of ankle joint rotation. Previous measurements of these differences have relied upon assumed joint centres and measurements of bone geometry made externally, such that they would be affected by the thickness of the overlying soft tissue. Using magnetic resonance imaging, we found that trained sprinters have shorter plantarflexor moment arms (p = 0.011) and longer forefoot bones (p = 0.019) than non-sprinters. The shorter moment arms of sprinters are attributable to differences in the location of the centre of rotation (p < 0.001) rather than to differences in the path of the Achilles tendon. A simple computer model suggests that increasing the ratio of forefoot to rearfoot length permits more plantarflexor muscle work during plantarflexion that occurs at rates expected during the acceleration phase following the sprint start.
ISSN:0962-8452
1471-2945
1471-2954
DOI:10.1098/rspb.2011.2358