Sprint Acceleration Mechanical Outputs and Lower Limb Injuries: A Follow-Up of Sprint, Jumps and Combined Events Athletes during an Athletics Season

Abstract

Problem: We aimed to explore the potential association between sprint running horizontal force production capacities (the theoretical maximum horizontal force that the lower limbs can produce at zero velocity: FH0, and the theoretical maximum velocity until which they can produce force (velocity at zero force): v0 ) and occurrence of lower limb injuries (LLI) in athletics (track and field) athletes through a season. Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study with data collection of FH0 and v0 and their week-to-week changes (dFH0 and dv0 , respectively) and LLI in 16 athletes practicing sprints, jumps or combined events in the same training group during the 2021/2022 season (37 weeks). We performed a multivariable binomial logistic regression with LLI (yes/no) as the dependent variable, and FH0 and v0 , dFH0 and dv0 as explanatory variables, adjusted for individual athletes and LLI during the previous week (yes/no). Risk indicators were presented as odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). › Results: The multivariable binomial logistic regression showed that a higher FH0 was associated with lower LLI risk (OR=0.12 (95%CI: 0.00-0.89). Conclusion: Lower FH0 was associated with higher risk of sustaining a new lower limb injury during the next week. Although caution should be taken on these preliminary results (e.g., small athletes’ sample, missing measurements, few confounding factors included), monitoring the FH0 could be one additional relevant approach to detect LLI in athletics.