Ann Conkle
Feb 2, 2012
Featured

Foot and ankle structures differ between sprinters and nonsprinters

The skeletal structure of the foot and ankle differs significantly between human sprinters and nonsprinters, according to Pennsylvania State University researchers. Their findings help explain why some people are faster runners, but also may be useful in helping people who have difficulty walking, like older adults and children with cerebral palsy. The research is the first to use MRI to demonstrate that sprinters have significantly longer bones in their forefeet and reduced leverage in their Achilles tendons than nonsprinters. There may be a trade-off between leverage and tendon force when rapid muscle contraction is required. Shorter Achilles tendon levers and longer toe bones permit sprinters to generate greater contact force between the foot and the ground and to maintain that force for a longer time, providing advantages to people with sprinter-like feet. Further research is needed to determine if the differences are hereditary or the result of sprint training.

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