I’m interested in knowing what are some tests you can perform to be able to identify athletes with fast twitch muscles vs. slow twitch muscles. Or, to be able to ID those who have a higher ratio than others. Thoughts?
There are many tests with good correlations between performance at a task and fibre type composition: vertical jump height, drop jump reactivity, isokinetic testing, sprinting(!!) or endurance running, and tendon-tap reflex timing. Also the speed of movement in the CMJ etc. On a more humourous side - the ability to withstand overspeed running but don’t try that because people can get hurt. Understand that correlation does not imply causation.
I’m guessing that your motive is to determine whether someone is suitable to sprinting or jumping. Your best bet is to train them and then test them really. Or do you have something else in mind?
you can test individual muscles by having them test their 1RM say in a hamstring curl, then see if they can lift 85% of their 1RM more than 6 times ? ? ?? if they can then they are mostly slow twitch in that muscle group…
Someone tell me if i got the percentages right on this? I know this test exists but im not 100% sure if i got the protocols right…
There are many tests with good correlations between performance at a task and fibre type composition: vertical jump height, drop jump reactivity, isokinetic testing, sprinting(!!) or endurance running, and tendon-tap reflex timing. Also the speed of movement in the CMJ etc. On a more humourous side - the ability to withstand overspeed running but don’t try that because people can get hurt. Understand that correlation does not imply causation.
I’m guessing that your motive is to determine whether someone is suitable to sprinting or jumping. Your best bet is to train them and then test them really. Or do you have something else in mind?
Also, for what it’s worth, keep in mind that these are females. Some of these I’m aware of, and some I’m not. I’d like you to go into more detail if you could. For example…
Vert. Jump - Are there any tables out there with some kind of standards for this to determine what certain heights would mean?
Isokinetic Testing - Could you go into more detail with this one?
Also, for what it’s worth, keep in mind that these are females. Some of these I’m aware of, and some I’m not. I’d like you to go into more detail if you could. For example…
Vert. Jump - Are there any tables out there with some kind of standards for this to determine what certain heights would mean?
Isokinetic Testing - Could you go into more detail with this one?
Tendon-Tap Reflex Timing - more detail please.
The best method so far is a continuous jump test with good correlation to fibre type (r=0.86). Bosco et al. (1983) 51:129-135 European Journal of Applied Physiology
Isokinetic testing (r=0.68): Tihanyi et al. (1982) European Journal of Applied Physiology 48:331-343.
Vertical jump: can’t find it off hand but should be a common one. Last saw this type of study years ago.
Tendon-Tap reflex: be careful where you stand when you tap someone’s knee tendon particularly the cohorts that you are attempting to test. It’s mentioned a little in “Neural influences on sprint running” which is on this website but you’ll need EMG analysing equipment.
Also look up the Wingate test. If I stumble across any literature I’ll inform you don’t you worry about that!
I’d like to know everyone’s thoughts on a book I just came across. Training for Speed, Agility, and Quickness by Lee E. Brown, Vance A. Ferrigno, and Juan Carlos Santana.
It is not exactly what you asked but maybe useful, “Development of Maximum Sprinting Speed” by Frank W. Dick (it may even be in the article tab on this website), its the one with the sprint control tables, anyway, at the very end of that paper there are also a series of bounding controls, incl standing long jump, 3 bound, 5 bound and 10 bound relating to a “target time”, however the note at the bottom is that
broad ranges in leg length can reflect variation as well as strength differences within groups and calls on coaches to establish tighter ranges for individual athletes and “height groups”
I’m not sure if anything short of a muscle biopsy will give you an accurate indication of fiber type. Fiber type varies by muscle even within an individual so any correlational study won’t provide the desired information. Further clouding this issue is that slow twitch fibers can act like fast twitch fibers if training is appropriate (presumably due to morphological changes at the sarcomere level and enhanced nervous system efficiency). Fiber type and performance link is vastly over-rated in my opinion. There’s much more to performance (tendon elasticity, nervous system conduction speeds, anthropometry, etc) than fiber type.
The more important question is why would you want to know? I don’t think it would be the best form of talent ID.
For long bounds and VJs, the amortization times are so long that any requirement for fast twitch fibers can quickly be offset by being super strong…something which has very little relationship with fiber type.
I’d like to know everyone’s thoughts on a book I just came across. Training for Speed, Agility, and Quickness by Lee E. Brown, Vance A. Ferrigno, and Juan Carlos Santana.
Lets say I am maxing out some athletes and I decide I want to find out each athletes fiber composition of a muscle group. I read in an article by Jason Karp that after determining an athletes 1RM, have them perform as many reps at 80% of their 1RM to failure. Essentially the more reps you can do, the more ST fibers you are likely to have, and vice versa.
First of all is this true? And secondly, if I were to use this test, would I have them perform the reps at 80% on that same day, or over the course of a few days or a week?
