Relationships Between Muscle Architecture, Deadlift Performance, and Maximal Isometric Force Produced at the Midthigh and Midshin Pull in Resistance-Trained Individuals

Bartolomei, S, Rovai, C, Lanzoni, IM, and di Michele, R. Relationships between muscle architecture, deadlift performance, and maximal isometric force produced at the midthigh and midshin pull in resistance-trained individuals. J Strength Cond Res 36(2): 299-303, 2022-The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between muscle architecture, lower-body power, and maximal isometric force produced at midthigh pull (MTP), and at midshin pull (MSP). Twenty experienced resistance-trained men (age = 25.5 +/- 3.2 years; body mass = 86.9 +/- 12.4 kg; body height = 178.0 +/- 5.3 cm) were tested for deadlift 1 repetition maximum (1RM), countermovement jump (CMJ), peak force (PF), and rate of force development (pRFD20) produced at isometric MTP and isometric MSP. Subjects were also assessed for architecture of vastus lateralis (VL). Physiological muscle thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length (FL) were measured. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the relationships between variables. In addition, differences between MTP and MSP were assessed using paired-sample t-tests. A significant (p < 0.05) difference was detected on the correlation between deadlift 1RM and MSP (r = 0.78; p < 0.001) compared with MTP (r = 0.55; p = 0.012). Moderate correlations were observed between MSP PF and VLFL (r = 0.55; p = 0.011). Midshin pull pRFD20 was the only parameter significantly correlated with CMJ (r = 0.50; p = 0.048). Significantly higher PF and pRFD20 were recorded in MTP compared with MSP (p = 0.007 and p = 0.003, respectively). The present results show that force produced from the floor position may be more important than force produced from a position that mimics the second pull of the clean for deadlift and vertical jump performances. Coaches and scientific investigators should consider using MSP to assess isometric PF using a test correlated with both muscle architecture and dynamic performances.

Automated summary

This study investigated the relationships between muscle architecture, lower-body power, and maximal isometric force produced at the midthigh pull and midshin pull. The results showed that force produced from the floor position may be more important than force produced from a position that mimics the second pull of the clean for deadlift and vertical jump performances.