Anthropometry as a predictor of high speed performance

To assess anthropometry as a predictor of high-speed performance, subjects performed four seated knee- and hip-extension workouts with their left leg on an inertial exercise trainer (Impulse Technologies, Newnan GA). Workouts, done exclusively in either the tonic or phasic contractile mode, entailed two one-minute sets separated by a 90-second rest period and yielded three performance variables: peak force, average force and work. Subjects provided the following anthropometric data: height, weight, body mass index, as well as total, upper and lower left leg lengths. Via multiple regression, anthropometry attempted to predict the variance per performance variable. Anthropometry explained a modest (R2=0.27-0.43) yet significant degree of variance from inertial exercise trainer workouts. Anthropometry was a better predictor of peak force variance from phasic workouts, while it accounted for a significant degree of average force and work variance solely from tonic workouts. Future research should identify variables that account for the unexplained variance from high-speed exercise performance.