ABSTRACT
When an athlete accelerates, the main mechanical need is to 1) produce force; and 2) to transmit it effectively to the ground. These two actions must be repeated and performed at high speed. Thus, the main focus of training should be on the core and ankle stabilizer muscles as “transmitting” muscles, and the hip extensors as the main force generators. The latter may be trained using the very specific exercises “hip thrusts” and back extensions to strengthen these key muscles for forward acceleration. This chapter focuses on the mechanical factors underpinning sprinting performance based on the F-v approach; understanding these fundamentals of sprinting performance may allow coaches and practitioners to develop specific training programs to reinforce the main muscles affecting performance in acceleration running. The main value of this approach is that the diagnostic and subsequent targeted training interventions are individualized, and frequent monitoring of program-induced changes in Pmax and its mechanical determinants can make this program more efficient and dynamic in terms of adaptation to individual changes over time.
