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A simple method for measuring power, force and velocity properties of sprint
running

Conference Paper · January 2013

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Pierre Samozino Jean-Benoît Morin

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 A SIMPLE METHOD FOR MEASURING
POWER, FORCE AND VELOCITY PROPERTIES OF SPRINT RUNNING
1
Pierre SAMOZINO, 1Jean-Benoît MORIN, 2,6Sylvain DOREL, 3Jean SLAWINSKI, 4
Nicolas PEYROT,
5
Eduardo SAEZ de VILLARREAL and 6Giuseppe RABITA
1
Laboratory of Exercise Physiology (EA 4338), Universities of Savoie and Saint-Etienne, France
2
Laboratory ‘‘Motricite´, Interactions, Performance’’ (EA 4334), University of Nantes, France
3
CeSERM – EA 2931. Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre la Défense, France
4
CURAPS-DIMPS (EA4075), University of La Réunion, France
5
Laboratory of Human Performance, Department of Sports, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
6
Laboratory of Biomechanics and Physiology, National Institute for Sports and Physical Education, France
email: [email protected]
SUMMARY Consequently, we think that determining individual F-v
The aim of this study was to propose and validate a simple relationship and Pmax values during sprint propulsion is of
field method to determine individual force, velocity and great interest for coaches and sport practitioners. Such
power output properties of sprint running. On the basis of 5 evaluations hitherto required to test athletes on instrumented
split times, this method models the horizontal force an specific treadmills measuring force, velocity and power
athlete develops over sprint acceleration using a output very accurately [5]. However, such devices are very
macroscopic inverse dynamic approach. Low differences in rare, and using them forces athlete to report to a laboratory
comparison to force plate data support the validity of this and can be challenged due to the non-ecological testing
simple method to determine force-velocity relationship and conditions. A simple method for determining F-v
maximal power output, which constitutes interesting tools relationships during sprint running in field conditions could
for sprint training and performance optimization. therefore be very interesting to generalize such evaluations
for training or scientific purposes.
INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was (i) to propose a simple field
Sprint running is a key factor of performance in many sport method for measuring horizontal force using an inverse
activities, such as track and field events or team sports. This dynamics approach applied to the body center of mass
ability implies large forward acceleration, which has been during sprint running acceleration, and (ii) to validate it by
related to the capacity to develop high amounts of horizontal comparison to reference force plate measurements.
power output onto the ground, i.e. high amounts of
horizontal external force at various speeds over sprint METHODS
acceleration [2, 4]. The overall mechanical capability to Nine elite or sub-elite sprinters (23.9 ± 3.4 years, 76.4 ± 7.1
produce horizontal external force during sprint running is kg, 1.82 ± 6.90 m, 100-m records: ranging from 9.99 to
well described by the linear force-velocity (F-v) relationship 10.49 s) performed 7 maximal sprints (2 x10 m, 2 x15 m, 20
[2, 5]. This relationship characterizes the mechanical limits m, 30 m and 40 m) from which individual F-v relationships,
of the entire neuromuscular system during sprint propulsion F0 and v0 values (force and velocity-axis intercepts of F-v
and is well summarized through the maximal force (F0) and regression curves, respectively), and Pmax values (Pmax = F0.
velocity (v0) this system can develop [5] and the associated v0 /4, [6]) were determined from horizontal external force
maximal power output (Pmax). Moreover, the slope of the F- obtained by two methods.
v relationship determines the individual F-v mechanical Reference method
profile, i.e. the ratio between force and velocity qualities, During each sprint, the horizontal ground reaction force was
which has recently been shown to determine explosive measured by a 6.60 m long force plate system. The position
performances, independently from the influence of Pmax [6]. of the starting block was set differently for each sprint in
These parameters are a complex integration of numerous order to virtually reconstruct the ground reaction force
individual muscle mechanical properties, morphological and signal of an entire single 40-m for each athlete. The
neural factors affecting the total external force developed by instantaneous running velocity was obtained from force
lower limbs, but also of the technical ability to apply the plate data and velocity at the entrance of the force plate area
external force effectively onto the ground. Recently, Morin measured by high speed video (300 Hz). Force and velocity
and colleagues showed that sprint performances (6s-sprints, were averaged for each step (contact + aerial phases).
100m-events or repeated sprints) are as much (or even more)
Simple method proposed
related to the technical ability to applied force onto the
During a running acceleration, velocity (v)-time curve has
ground as to the total force developed by lower limbs [3, 4].
been shown to follow a mono-exponential function:
v(t) = vmax.(1-e(-t/τ)) (1) resulting parameters correspond to the whole running
with vmax the maximal velocity reached and τ the acceleration propulsion, and encompass both contact and aerial phases.
time constant. The horizontal position (x) and acceleration Thus, these relationships that consider neuromuscular
(a) of the body center of mass as a function of time during capabilities, technical abilities and step kinematics pattern,
the acceleration phase can be expressed after integration and are more representative of the individual mechanical
derivation of v(t) over time as follows: properties of the sprint propulsion than the lower limbs
x(t) = vmax.(t + τ.e(-t/τ))- vmax.τ (2) mechanical capabilities. Finally, the proposed method is
a(t) = (vmax/τ).e(-t/τ)) (3) very simple to set in field conditions since it only requires
For each athlete, the best sprint times at 10, 15, 20, 30 and time-distance data during a sprint acceleration, which can be
40 m were measured from a pair of photocells located at the obtained from photocell timer or from radar measurements.
finish line of the 7 sprints, and used to determine vmax and τ
using equation 2 and least square regression. From these two
parameters, instantaneous velocity and acceleration were
computed using equations 1 and 3, respectively. The net
horizontal external force (Fh) was modeled over time as:
Fh(t) = m.a(t) + Fair (4)
with Fair the aerodynamic friction force to overcome during
sprint running computed from running velocity and an
estimation of runner’s frontal area and drag coefficient [1].

Statistical analyses
F-v relationships and power output capabilities obtained
with the two methods were compared using paired t-tests,
systematic bias and absolute bias (in percentage of the
reference method values) computations between the
proposed and reference methods on F0, v0 and Pmax values. Figure 1: Typical F-v relationships obtained with the
reference method (dashed regression line determined from
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION black points) and modeled by the simple method (black
F-v relationships obtained by the two methods were well line).
fitted by linear regressions (r² from 0.92 to 0.99, P < 0.001).
Figure 1 presents typical F-v obtained from the two CONCLUSIONS
methods. Mean ± SD of F0, v0 and Pmax values are presented This study proposed a simple method to determine F-v and
in Table 1. The absence of significant difference and the maximal power output values for sprint running using only 5
very low bias (< 5 %) between the two methods for F0, v0 split times from 10 to 40-m acceleration phases, which is
and Pmax values support the validity and accuracy of the easy to set in field conditions. Comparisons to force plate
simple method to determine F-v relationships and maximal measurements supported its validity and accuracy to
power output values. The differences observed here between determine force, velocity and power output capabilities
methods could be due to model approximations (inverse during sprint running. This method allows sport
dynamic approach applied to the body center of mass, practitioners and coaches to evaluate force, velocity and
aerodynamic friction force estimation, velocity-time curve power output capabilities of athletes during sprint running in
exponential model), to inaccuracy in body center of mass field conditions, which can be very interesting to orient and
split time measurements by photocell timers, and also to the individualize exercises and training loads according to
inter-step variability in force plate measurements. Moreover, strengths and weaknesses of each athlete.
due to methodological concerns associated with force plates,
F-v relationships had to be determined from several sprints, REFERENCES
which added intra-subject variability in mechanical 1. Arsac L et al., J Appl Physiol 92, 2002.
measurements, and in turn variability in parameter 2. Jaskolska et al., Sports Med Training & Rehab 8, 1999.
computations. 3. Morin JB et al., Med Sci Sports Exerc 43, 2011.
Usually, F-v relationships and Pmax values have been 4. Morin JB et al., Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 2012.
computed from values of force, velocity and power averaged 5. Morin JB et al., J Biomech 43, 2010.
over each lower limb extension, i.e. each contact phase 6. Samozino P et al., Med Sci Sports Exerc 44, 2012.
during running [4]. Since the proposed method models these
mechanical entities from the body center of mass
displacement-time curve over sprint acceleration, the

TABLE 1: Mean ± SD of F 0 , V 0 and P max obtained with the two methods, and bias between the two methods.
Reference Method Simple Method Bias Absolute Bias (%)
FF0 (N) 654 ± 80 636 ± 89 -17.0 ± 37.9 5.18 ± 3.83
-1
vv0 (m.s ) 10.20 ± 0.36 10.52 ± 0.72 0.34 ± 0.52 4.75 ± 3.39
PP
max (W) 1669 ± 253 1679 ± 289 9.57 ± 62.78 2.81 ± 2.68

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