AUTHOR=Edouard Pascal , Mendiguchia Jurdan , Lahti Johan , Arnal Pierrick J. , Gimenez Philippe , Jiménez-Reyes Pedro , Brughelli Matt , Samozino Pierre , Morin Jean-Benoit 

TITLE=Sprint Acceleration Mechanics in Fatigue Conditions: Compensatory Role of Gluteal Muscles in Horizontal Force Production and Potential Protection of Hamstring Muscles

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2018.01706

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2018.01706

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Aim:</bold> Hamstring muscle injury is the main injury related to sports requiring sprint acceleration. In addition, hamstring muscles have been reported to play a role in horizontal force production during sprint acceleration performance. The aim of the present study was to analyze (i) the determinants of horizontal force production and (ii) the role of hip extensors, and hamstring muscles in particular, for horizontal force production during repeated sprint-induced fatigue conditions.</p><p><bold>Method:</bold> In this experimental laboratory setting study including 14 sprint-trained male athletes, we analyzed (i) the changes in sprint mechanics, peak torque of the knee and hip extensors and flexors, muscle activity of the <italic>vastus lateralis</italic>, <italic>rectus femoris</italic>, <italic>biceps femoris</italic>, and <italic>gluteus</italic>, and sagittal plane lower limb motion, before and after twelve 6-s sprints separated by 44 s rest on an instrumented motorized treadmill, and (ii) the determinants of horizontal force production (<italic>F<sub>H</sub></italic>) during the sprint acceleration in a fatigue state (after 12 sprints).</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The repeated-sprint protocol induced a decrease in maximal power output (<italic>Pmax</italic>) [-17.5 ± 8.9%; effect size (ES): 1.57, large] and in the contact-averaged horizontal force component (<italic>F<sub>H</sub></italic>) (-8.6 ± 8.4%; ES: 0.86, moderate) but not meaningful changes in the contact-averaged resultant (total) force (<italic>F<sub>Tot</sub></italic>) (-3.4 ± 2.9%; ES: 0.55, small) and vertical force component (<italic>F<sub>V</sub></italic>) (-3.1 ± 3.2%; ES: 0.49, small). A decrease was found in concentric peak torque of the knee flexors and extensors and in <italic>gluteus</italic> and <italic>vastus lateralis</italic> muscle activity during entire swing and end-of-swing phase. An increase was found in contact time and swing time, while step frequency and knee speed before ground contact decreased. Muscular determinants associated with <italic>F<sub>H</sub></italic> and its decrease after the repeated-sprint protocol were concentric peak torque of the hip extensors (<italic>p</italic> = 0.033) and a decrease in <italic>gluteus maximus</italic> activity at the end-of-swing (<italic>p</italic> = 0.007), respectively.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Sprint-induced fatigue lead to changes in horizontal force production muscular determinants: hamstring muscle seems not to have the same role than in non-fatigue condition. Horizontal force production seems to be more dependent on the hip extensors and <italic>gluteus maximus</italic> function. Given the fatigue-induced decrease in hamstring muscle strength, we can hypothesize that muscle compensatory and kinematic strategies reported in a fatigued state could be an adaptation to allow/maintain performance and a protective adaptation to limit hamstring muscles constraints.</p>