Key result
Quadriceps and gastrocnemii anatomical cross-sectional area explained 85% of relative peak-power variance, while vastus lateralis fascicle length explained 75% of time-to-peak-power variance.
Why the study?
The study investigated the role of quadriceps and gastrocnemii size and vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis muscle architecture in peak-power and time-to-peak-power during an all-out Wingate test.
Cross-Sectional (n=21)
No
Effect estimate: r = 0.896
p-value: p=<0.001
Quadriceps and gastrocnemii anatomical cross-sectional area largely explain relative peak-power, while vastus lateralis fascicle length is the main predictor of time-to-peak-power in an all-out Wingate test.
Muscle morphology metrics may aid power profiling in athletes; hypothesis-generating for training interventions before clinical adoption.
Purpose: The current study investigated the role of quadriceps and gastrocnemii size and vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis muscle architecture in peak-power and time-to-peak-power exerted in an all-out Wingate test. Twenty-one amateur cyclists were recruited. Methods: Quadriceps and gastrocnemii anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA), and vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis pennation angle and fascicle length were measured using ultrasound. Relative peak-power (normalized per body mass) and time-to-peak-power were measured during a 30s all-out test. Results: Relative peak-power was correlated with quadriceps ACSA (r = 0.896, p < .001), gastrocnemii ACSA (r = 0.811, p < .001), vastus lateralis (r = 0.787, p < .001) and gastrocnemius medialis pennation angle (r = 0.638, p < .003). Multiple regression revealed that quadriceps and gastrocnemii ACSA accounted for 85% (R2= 0.85) of peak-power variance. Time-to-peak-power showed very large (r = −0.868, p < .001) and large correlation (r = −0.680, p = .001) with VL and GM fascicle length, respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed that VL fascicle length explained 75% (R2= 0.75) of the time-to-peak-power variance. Conclusions: Quadriceps and gastrocnemii ACSA largely explained relative peak-power in an all-out Wingate test. Vastus lateralis fascicle length was the main predictor of the time-to-peak-power. Muscle architecture characteristics seem to be involved in the power generating capacity.
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Coratella et al. (2019) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy amateur cyclists (n=21). Muscle architecture (ACSA and fascicle length) was evaluated on Relative peak-power correlation with quadriceps anatomical cross-sectional area (r = 0.896, p=<0.001). Quadriceps and gastrocnemii anatomical cross-sectional area explained 85% of relative peak-power variance, while vastus lateralis fascicle length explained 75% of time-to-peak-power variance.
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