Relation entre la puissance et la raideur musculotendineuse chez les sportifs de haut niveau

Goal

The aim of this study was to test the relation between the reactive power and the stiffness of the legs in high trained athletes (sprinters and skiing racers).

Method

A simple method to measure, in field conditions, the leg stiffness during maximal bouncing was used on twenty-eight sprinters, and twenty-nine skiing racers. In addition, the mechanical power called reactive power was calculated according to the method proposed by Bosco. The relationship between stiffness and power was observed in the different groups.

Results

The value of stiffness obtained was 29,866 ± 7372 N.m⁻¹. The power was equal to 52.33 ± 8,72 W.kg⁻¹. The main result of this study was that a relation between stiffness and power was obtained only in the sprinters (r² = 0,68, P < 0,001). This result stressed the influence of the sport speciality on the stiffness control.

Conclusion

The power measured during maximal bouncing, called reactive power is correlated with the leg's stiffness when subjects are trained to produce power in similar conditions. No correlation was obtained in skiing racers. The stiffness measurement was then a complementary test in the physical evaluation of the athletes.