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Int J Sports Med 2017; 38(13): 1017-1022
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-117607
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Kinetic Sprint Asymmetries on a non-motorised Treadmill in Rugby Union Athletes

Scott R. Brown
1   Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Matt R. Cross
1   Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
2   Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Biology (LIBM), Université Savoie Mont Blanc, Le Bourget-du-Lac, France
,
Olivier Girard
3   Institute of Sports Sciences (ISSUL), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
4   Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
,
Franck Brocherie
3   Institute of Sports Sciences (ISSUL), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
5   Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance, Research Department, National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (INSEP), Paris, France
,
Pierre Samozino
2   Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Biology (LIBM), Université Savoie Mont Blanc, Le Bourget-du-Lac, France
,
Jean-Benoît Morin
1   Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
6   Laboratory of Human Motricity, Education, Sport and Health (LAMHESS), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 19 July 2017

Publication Date:
01 October 2017 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to present a potential link between sprint kinetic (vertical [F V] and horizontal force [F H]) asymmetries and athletic performance during acceleration and maximal velocity (v max) sprinting. Thirty un-injured male rugby athletes performed 8-s sprints on a non-motorised treadmill. Kinetic data were divided into ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ legs based on individually averaged peak values observed during sprinting and were analysed to evaluate asymmetry. Large differences were found between the strong and weak legs in F H during acceleration (4.3 vs. 3.5 N·kg−1) and v max (3.7 vs. 2.8 N·kg−1) sprinting (both ES=1.2), but not in F V (21.8 vs. 20.8 N·kg−1, ES=− 0.6 for acceleration; 23.9 vs. 22.8 N·kg−1, ES=− 0.5 for v max, respectively). Group mean asymmetry was lower in F V compared to F H during acceleration (1.6 vs. 6.8%) and v max (1.6 vs. 8.2%). The range of asymmetry was much lower in F V (0.03–4.3%) compared to F H (0.2–28%). In un-injured rugby athletes, the magnitude and range of asymmetry scores in F H, occurring during acceleration and v max phases, where much greater than those found in F V. These findings highlight the potential for some un-injured athletes to possess kinetic asymmetries known as crucial components for acceleration performance in sprinting.

Key words

Woodway - horizontal force - vertical force - acceleration - maximal velocity - sprint performance
 

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