Do longer legs win races? Examining the role of limb length, explosive power and reaction time in sprinting
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v82.119319Keywords:
Development, performance, physiological, potential, mechanicalAbstract
Introduction: Optimal sprint performance relies upon a number of physical, physiological and structural factors. Body structure, training, natural capacity and facilities are the key componemts of sprint performance.
Objective: This research study examined the role of limb length in sprinting performance in relation to explosive power and reaction time among adolescent male sprinters. It was hypothesized that limb length will play decisive role in sprint performance.
Methodology: A sample of 32 male participants completed the 8-week intervention that comprised of five weekly sessions of 120 minutes each. Participants were recruited from four Athletics academies in Peshawar. Age of the participants was between 14-17 years and requisite sprinting experience was two years. Experimental research design was employed in the study and random allocation was made to either control or experimental group (n=16) each.
Results: Experimental group was given additional plyometric and sprint technique-related exercises. Anthropometric data including height, weight, leg length, body mass index, explosive power, reaction time and sprint performance were measured.
Discussion: The experimental group has shown significantly greater improvements in explosive power (F(1,30) = 12.45, p = 0.001, ηp² = 0.29) and sprint times (F(1,30) = 15.32, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.34) compared to the control group. No correlation was found between limb length and reaction time.
Conclusion: Biomechanical role of the longer limb is conclusive in sprinting however, structured training of explosive power can add more to optimizing the structural advantage.
References
Adnan, A. A., & Hussein, E. S. (2025). The Effect of Specialized Straight-Line Sprint Training on Performance Endurance at Maximum Speed, Stride Length, and Stride Frequency in the 200-Meter Sprint for Athletes Under 20 Years of Age. Modern Sport, 24(1), 113-123. https://doi.org/10.54702/2708-3454.1014
Bakti, A. P., Kusnanik, N. W., Wahjuni, E. S., Firmansyah, A., Susanto, I. H., & Khuddus, L. A. (2024). The correlation of leg length, jump height, and leg muscle explosive power toward sprint ability. Retos, 51, 1463-1468. file:///C:/Users/Hp/Downloads/gestor_retos,+101052-Texto+del+art%C3%ADculo-397535-1-10-20231230+(1)%20(1).pdf
Behm, D. G., Konrad, A., Nakamura, M., Alizadeh, S., Culleton, R., Hadjizadeh Anvar, S., ... & Sale, D. G. (2024). A narrative review of velocity-based training best practice: the importance of contraction intent versus movement speed. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 50, 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2024-0136
Bıçakçı, B., Cięszczyk, P., & Humińska-Lisowska, K. (2024). Genetic determinants of endurance: A narrative review on elite athlete status and performance. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(23), 13041. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252313041
Borato, L. A., Whatman, C., Walters, S., & Read, P. (2025). What do we know (and not know) about adolescent awkwardness in youth sports? A narrative review. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 20(5), 2257-2267. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541251364101
Botha, M. (2023). Exploring movement-related cortical potentials, reaction time and force production during the sprint block start of expert and novice sprinters: A case series (Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University). https://scholar.sun.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/3c343291-5ac7-4fde-810b-05bcbb0679ac/content
Bourantanis, A., Nomikos, N., & Wang, W. (2024). Biomechanical Insights and Strategic Applications in Ancient Combat Sports: Optimizing Stability, Power and Tactical Advantage. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202406.1796.v1
Bozkurt, Ö., Erdağ, D., Tinazci, C., Burgul, N., & Bekiroğulları, H. (2025). Mechanobiological and neuromuscular responses to foot-position variations during front and back squat exercises. Frontiers in Physiology, 16, 1727141. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2025.1727141
Brown, K. A., Patel, D. R., & Darmawan, D. (2017). Participation in sports in relation to adolescent growth and development. Translational pediatrics, 6(3), 150. https://doi.org/10.21037/tp.2017.04.03
Chen, L., Qu, W., Yan, R., Deng, B., Sun, J., Wang, Y., ... & Li, D. (2025). Timing is everything: the age-related impact of plyometric training on lower limb explosive strength in male adolescents and its general effectiveness in female adolescents. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 125(6), 1665-1685. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-024-05683-0
Clark, K. P. (2022). Determinants of top speed sprinting: Minimum requirements for maximum velocity. Applied sciences, 12(16), 8289. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12168289
Cormier, P., Freitas, T. T., & Seaman, K. (2024). A systematic review of resistance training methodologies for the development of lower body concentric mean power, peak power, and mean propulsive power in team-sport athletes. Sports biomechanics, 23(10), 1229-1262. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2021.1948601
Edmizal, E., Donie, D., Barlian, E., Welis, W., Sin, T. H., Umar, U., ... & Bhatnagar, P. (2025). Effect of psychological skills training on reaction time and strategic thinking in competitive badminton-a systematic review. Retos, 62, 439-453. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v62.110746
Harrison, P. W., James, L. P., McGuigan, M. R., Jenkins, D. G., & Kelly, V. G. (2019). Resistance priming to enhance neuromuscular performance in sport: Evidence, potential mechanisms and directions for future research. Sports Medicine, 49(10), 1499-1514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01136-3
Hicks, D. S., McMillan, S., Schöllhorn, W., & Van Den Tillaar, R. (2026). Sprint Running Coordination: A Dynamical Systems Perspective. Sports Medicine, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-025-02380-6
Hicks, D. S., Schuster, J. G., Samozino, P., & Morin, J. B. (2020). Improving mechanical effectiveness during sprint acceleration: practical recommendations and guidelines. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 42(2), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000519
Jouira, G., Alexe, D. I., Tohănean, D. I., Alexe, C. I., Tomozei, R. A., & Sahli, S. (2024). The relationship between dynamic balance, jumping ability, and agility with 100 m sprinting performance in athletes with intellectual disabilities. Sports, 12(2), 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12020058
Kipp, K., & Kim, H. (2020). Relative contributions and capacities of lower extremity muscles to accelerate the body’s center of mass during countermovement jumps. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 23(12), 914-921. https://doi.org/10.1080/10255842.2020.1772764
Kozina, Z., & Cieślicka, M. (2023). NERVOUS SYSTEM FEATURES OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND PATTERNS. https://dspace.hnpu.edu.ua/server/api/core/bitstreams/00569356-651d-4f8d-96d0-644dcb25b428/content
Kwon, H., & Kim, D. (2025). Correlation Between Leg Length and Physical Performance According to Sports Characteristics of Well-Trained Athletes. Applied Sciences, 15(7), 3836. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073836
León Muñoz, C. ., Ramírez Campillo, R. ., Traver Gil, P. ., & Sáez de Villareal Sáez, E. . (2024). Effects of Combined Strength Training Methods on Athletes and Healthy Participants Sprint and Strength Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta analysis of Controlled Studies. Retos, 55, 999-1009. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v55.105264
Lever, J. R., Murray, A., Bartlett, J. D., Aurellado, I., Duffield, R., & Fullagar, H. H. (2025). Revisiting the playbook: Coaches’ opinions and current views of performance, development and load monitoring in highly-trained male youth basketball players. International journal of sports science & coaching, 20(5), 1828-1838. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541251342023
Li, Y., Guo, Q., Shao, J., Gan, Y., Zhao, Y., & Zhou, Y. (2025). Neuromuscular factors predicting lower limb explosive strength in male college sprinters. Frontiers in physiology, 15, 1498811. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2024.1498811
Liu, X., Shao, Y., Saha, S., Zhao, Z., & Karmakar, D. (2025). Maximizing sprint performance among adolescent sprinters: a controlled evaluation of functional, traditional, and combined training approaches. Frontiers in public health, 13, 1596381. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1596381
Liuzzi, L., Pine, D. S., Fox, N. A., & Averbeck, B. B. (2023). Changes in behavior and neural dynamics across adolescent development. Journal of Neuroscience, 43(50), 8723-8732. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0462-23.2023
McGarrigal, L. D., Morse, C. I., Sims, D. T., & Stebbings, G. K. (2025). Development of stretch-shortening cycle function in girls during maturation and in response to training: a narrative review. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 39(8), e1043-e1051. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000005191
Meredith Weiss, S., & Marshall, P. J. (2023). Anticipation across modalities in children and adults: Relating anticipatory alpha rhythm lateralization, reaction time, and executive function. Developmental science, 26(1), e13277. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13277
Miyashiro, K., Nagahara, R., Yamamoto, K., & Nishijima, T. (2019). Kinematics of maximal speed sprinting with different running speed, leg length, and step characteristics. Frontiers in sports and active living, 1, 37. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2019.00037
Moura, T. B. M. A., Leme, J. C., Nakamura, F. Y., Cardoso, J. R., & Moura, F. A. (2024). Determinant biomechanical variables for each sprint phase performance in track and field: A systematic review. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 19(1), 488-509. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541231200526
Pavlović, R. (2021). The importance of reaction time in athletics: Influence on the results of sprint runs of World Championships finalists. Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine, 34, 53-65. https://doi.org/10.18276/cej.2021.2-05
Perwira Bakti, A., Widyah Kusnanik, N., Sri Wahjuni, E., Firmansyah, A., Himawan Susanto, I., & Abdil Khuddus, L. (2024). The Correlation of Leg Length, Jump Height, and Leg Muscle Explosive Power Toward Sprint Ability. Retos, 51, 1463-1468. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v51.101052
Pichardo, A. W., Oliver, J. L., Harrison, C. B., Maulder, P. S., & Lloyd, R. S. (2018). Integrating models of long-term athletic development to maximize the physical development of youth. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 13(6), 1189-1199. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954118785503
Sanz-Matesanz, M., González-Fernández, F. T., Blanco-Luengo, D., & Martínez-Aranda, L. M. (2025). Optimising Sprint Performance in Rugby: Insights from a Systematic Review of Training Methods. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 10(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10010051
Singh, S. (2025). Strength and Conditioning Demands of Sprinters and Throwers in Track and Field: A Comparative Analysis. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202507.0676.v1
Stachoń, A., Pietraszewska, J., & Burdukiewicz, A. (2023). Anthropometric profiles and body composition of male runners at different distances. Scientific reports, 13(1), 18222. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45064-9
Szabo, D. A., Neagu, N., Teodorescu, S., Panait, C. M., & Sopa, I. S. (2021). Study on the influence of proprioceptive control versus visual control on reaction speed, hand coordination, and lower limb balance in young students 14–15 years old. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(19), 10356. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910356
Valamatos, M. J., Abrantes, J. M., Carnide, F., Valamatos, M. J., & Monteiro, C. P. (2022). Biomechanical performance factors in the track and field sprint start: a systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 4074. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074074
Vist Hagen, R., Haga, M., Sigmundsson, H., & Lorås, H. (2022). The association between academic achievement in physical education and timing of biological maturity in adolescents. Plos one, 17(3), e0265718. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265718
Washif, J. A., & Pyne, D. B. (2026). A Practical Approach to Optimizing Support for Elite Athletes Using Performance Determinants and Moderating Factors. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 1(aop), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2025-0487
Washif, J. A., & Kok, L. Y. (2022). Relationships between vertical jump metrics and sprint performance, and qualities that distinguish between faster and slower sprinters. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise, 4(2), 135-144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-021-00122-4
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Mohibullah Khan Marwat, Shah Zaman Khan, Sajid Hussain, Muhammad Salman, Samera Saman, Kashif Mehmood, Muhammad Asad Khan, Hummaira Farah
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.
