title: Biomechanical characteristics of skeletal muscles and associations between running speed and contraction time in 8- to 13-year-old children.
abstract: Objective To investigate associations between running speeds and contraction times in 8- to 13-year-old children. Method This longitudinal study analyzed tensiomyographic measurements of vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles' contraction times and maximum running speeds in 107 children (53 boys, 54 girls). Data were evaluated using multiple correspondence analysis. Results A gender difference existed between the vastus lateralis contraction times and running speeds. The running speed was less dependent on vastus lateralis contraction times in boys than in girls. Analysis of biceps femoris contraction times and running speeds revealed that running speeds of boys were much more structurally associated with contraction times than those of girls, for whom the association seemed chaotic. Conclusion Joint category plots showed that contraction times of biceps femoris were associated much more closely with running speed than those of the vastus lateralis muscle. These results provide insight into a new dimension of children's development.
authors.affiliation: 1 Dr. Adolf Drolc Healthcare Center, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Jernej
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Završnik
authors.affiliation: 2 Institute for Kinesiology Research, University of Primorska, Science and Research Centre of Koper, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Rado
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pišot
authors.affiliation: 2 Institute for Kinesiology Research, University of Primorska, Science and Research Centre of Koper, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Boštjan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Šimunič
authors.affiliation: 3 Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kokol
authors.affiliation: 4 Faculty of Health Sciences, Center for International Cooperation, University of Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Blažun Vošner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D000070633:Hamstring Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Children; contraction time; motor development; running speed; skeletal muscle; tensiomyography