Regresar

Architectural characteristics of vastus lateralis muscle and jump performance in young men

Abstract:

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between architectural characteristics of one leg muscle and jump performance in a group of physical education students. Ten male physical education students volunteered for the study. They were tested for their dynamic explosive force by asking them to perform jump tests on a force platform. Skeletal muscle architecture of vastus lateralis was visualised using ultrasonography and their body composition was evaluated. Isolated muscle thickness, fascicle pennation angle and fascicle length of vastus lateralis were measured in vivo. Absolute fascicle length of vastus lateralis was greater compared with other studies carried out with sprinters, distance runners and controls. Nonetheless, when it was expressed relative to limb length, it was comparable to that observed in 100m sprinters or controls. There was a negative correlation between fascicle length and jump performance. The relationships between muscle architecture and muscular performance could be stronger in greater and more homogeneous groups. In conclusion, our subjects have similar vastus lateralis muscle architecture compared with the literature. The relationships between muscle architecture and jump performance are not clear, probably because there are more variables involved, like fibre type and neural activity. ©2005 Teviot Scientific Publications.