Study of the Relationship Between Fast-Twitch Muscle Fiber Percentage and Some Anthropometric Measurements on the Performance of Sprinters in the 100-Meter Dash (Age Group 16–18 Years)

Study of the Relationship Between Fast-Twitch Muscle Fiber Percentage and Some Anthropometric Measurements on the Performance of Sprinters in the 100-Meter Dash (Age Group 16–18 Years)

Researcher: Khairy Al-Mabrouk Al-Harari Shawk
Email: hw_79c@yahoo.com

Abstract                                                                                                                          

The 100-meter dash is one of the most thrilling competitions in athletics, relying primarily on speed, muscular strength, and the ability to achieve peak performance in a short time. This study aims to analyze the physiological and physical factors influencing sprinters' performance, particularly the relationship between fast-twitch muscle fiber percentage, anthropometric measurements (such as height, weight, and muscle mass), and their race performance. It also seeks to understand the interaction between these factors and how they can be utilized to enhance athletic performance.  

A descriptive approach was used, as it is the most suitable for studying existing phenomena and analyzing relationships between variables without experimental intervention. Data were collected through direct measurements of the sprinters' physical and physiological characteristics, along with an analysis of their race performance. The original study population consisted of 20 male sprinters aged 16–18 years, specializing in the 100-meter dash at the Sports City in Tripoli, Libya. A purposive sampling method was applied, excluding three sprinters who declined to participate and three others for the pilot study, resulting in a final sample size of 14 sprinters.

The results revealed a strong negative correlation between fast-twitch muscle fiber percentage and 100-meter dash time, with a higher percentage contributing to improved performance due to increased rapid force generation capacity. Anthropometric measurements (particularly height and muscle mass) also positively influenced performance, as height enhanced stride length, while muscle mass boosted propulsion power. Additionally, the findings indicated that optimal performance does not depend on a single factor but rather on the interaction of multiple variables. For instance, a sprinter with a high percentage of fast-twitch fibers may not achieve excellent performance if their anthropometric measurements are suboptimal (e.g., short stature or low muscle mass). The study also suggested that these variables (fiber percentage and physical measurements) could be used to predict sprinters' performance with high accuracy, with fast-twitch fibers being the most influential factor.   

Keywords                                                                                                                         

Fast-twitch muscle fibers, anthropometric measurements, 100-meter dash, athletic performance, junior sprinters.