[undead_fear@hotmail.com]

undead_fear@hotmail.com on May 6, 2010 at 9:48 pm #16709

Just another quick question, how and why is the posterior chain so important? Whenever I sprint it never ever feels as though my hams and glutes are working… Is it the claw back action that works the hams? Because I usually only find my quads to be hurting rather than the hams, even though I’ve read in several pages that the posterior chain is involved far more than the quads… Any help with this?

[Mike Young]

Mike Young on May 7, 2010 at 12:49 am #98062

Hamstrings are active for stabilization of the knee joint and as a hip extensor. Accelerating the foot down while in flight and moving the body in front of the foot while in support are both actions which the hamstring is largely responsible for.

Quads definitely play an important role in sprinting though…they help you to fight the effect of gravity pulling you down towards the ground. They are very important in maintaining leg stiffness in top end speed running.

ELITETRACK Founder

[undead_fear@hotmail.com]

undead_fear@hotmail.com on May 7, 2010 at 2:03 am #98071

Hmm… what do you mean by hip extensor? I thought they were a different muscle group in themself o.o. And what’s this thing about leg stiffness though, I thought after the claw back action you were supposed to land with your leg bent directly below your hips? Or was I thinking wrong all along :/