Sprinters’ and Marathon Runners’ Performances Are Better Explained by Muscle Fibers’ Percentage Cross-Sectional Area than Any Other Parameter of Muscle Fiber Composition
Spyridon Methenitis,
Angeliki-Nikoletta Stasinaki,
Thomas Mpampoulis,
Constantinos Papadopoulos,
Giorgos Papadimas,
Nikolaos Zaras,
Gerasimos Terzis
Affiliations
Spyridon Methenitis
Sports Performance Laboratory, School of Physical Education & Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece
Angeliki-Nikoletta Stasinaki
Sports Performance Laboratory, School of Physical Education & Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece
Thomas Mpampoulis
Sports Performance Laboratory, School of Physical Education & Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece
Constantinos Papadopoulos
A’ Neurology Clinic, Aiginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
Giorgos Papadimas
A’ Neurology Clinic, Aiginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos Zaras
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, School of Physical Education, Sport Science and Occupational Therapy, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, Greece
Gerasimos Terzis
Sports Performance Laboratory, School of Physical Education & Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece
The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between muscle fiber type variables and sprinting, jumping, strength, power and endurance performances in sprinters and marathon runners. Furthermore, the study explored which muscle fiber type variable influences athletes’ performance the most and which variable discriminates sprinters from marathon runners. Body composition, vastus lateralis muscle fiber composition, sprinting, jumping, strength, maximum isometric force, rate of force development and endurance performance were assessed in well-trained sprinters (n = 15; age: 24.7 ± 4.1 years; body mass: 82.7 ± 8.8 kg; body fat: 11.3 ± 4.2%) and marathon runners (n = 15; age: 26.1 ± 3.2 years; body mass: 69.7 ± 4.3 kg; body fat: 9.5 ± 3.3%). Significant correlations were observed between muscle fiber composition variables and performances (r = −0.848 to 0.902; p 2: 0.796–0.978; p p < 0.001) by only using athletes’ muscle fibers’ %CSAs. In conclusion, muscle fibers’ %CSAs may be the most critical variables for explaining and distinguishing sprinters’ and marathon runners’ performances.
