Short answer
When designing for athletic performance, particularly in sprinting, prioritize features that support or enhance the function of the lateral abdominal, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and pectineus muscles.
- Field
- Human Factors
- Source
- Journal of Human Kinetics (2025)
- Method
- Experimental (Pre-test/Post-test design with imaging)
- Sample
- 10 participants
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Sprinting engages distinct trunk and pelvis muscles, with lateral abdominals, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and pectineus showing the highest activation. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Journal of Human Kinetics. Using Experimental (pre-test/post-test design with imaging) with 10 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing for athletic performance, particularly in sprinting, prioritize features that support or enhance the function of the lateral abdominal, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and pectineus muscles.
Sprint biomechanics reveal specific trunk and pelvis muscle activation patterns
Sprinting engages distinct trunk and pelvis muscles, with lateral abdominals, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and pectineus showing the highest activation.
Journal of Human Kinetics · 2025
Key Findings
- 01T2 values increased significantly in lateral abdominal, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, rectus femoris, tensor fasciae latae, sartorius, and pectineus muscles after sprinting.
- 02Lateral abdominals, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and pectineus exhibited the highest levels of muscle activity.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing for athletic performance, particularly in sprinting, prioritize features that support or enhance the function of the lateral abdominal, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and pectineus muscles.
How to apply
When developing sports equipment or training aids for sprinters, consider how the design interacts with and supports the identified key trunk and pelvis muscles.
Project actions
- 01Consider how your design could enhance or support the specific muscles identified in this study.
- 02If your project involves movement, think about which muscles are most engaged and how your design can interact with them.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Utilized advanced imaging technology (MRI) for objective measurement.
- +Focused on a specific, high-demand activity (sprinting).
Limitations
This study used MRI, which is not a typical tool for design projects. The sample size is small and limited to male athletes.
Reliability & validity
The use of standardized MRI procedures and a controlled experimental design contributes to reliability. Validity is supported by the physiological basis of T2 values reflecting muscle water content and activity, though direct electromyography would offer a more direct measure of muscle activation.
Think critically
How might the findings about specific muscle activation during sprinting be applied to the design of everyday objects or activities that require core stability, even if not directly related to athletic performance?
Design Principles
"Optimize design to accommodate and support the biomechanically critical muscle groups identified for specific activities."
Understanding these specific muscle activation patterns is crucial for designing effective training programs, injury prevention strategies, and performance enhancement tools for athletes. It informs the development of equipment and apparel that support or enhance the function of these key muscle groups.
What This Means for Your Design
When people sprint, certain muscles in their core and hips work harder than others. This study found that the side abs, hip flexors, back muscles, and butt muscles are especially active.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the biomechanics of human movement and the importance of specific muscle engagement in your design project.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research into sprinting biomechanics has identified specific muscle activation patterns in the trunk and pelvis, with significant engagement observed in the lateral abdominals, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and pectineus. This understanding is critical for designing performance-enhancing equipment or injury-prevention strategies that target these key muscle groups.
Source
Journal of Human Kinetics
Investigation of Trunk and Pelvis Muscle Activity during Sprinting using T2-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging
journal · 2025
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about sprint biomechanics reveal specific trunk and pelvis muscle activation patterns?
- When designing for athletic performance, particularly in sprinting, prioritize features that support or enhance the function of the lateral abdominal, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and pectineus muscles. Evidence: Journal of Human Kinetics (2025).
- Why does "Sprint biomechanics reveal specific trunk and pelvis muscle activation patterns" matter for design?
- Understanding these specific muscle activation patterns is crucial for designing effective training programs, injury prevention strategies, and performance enhancement tools for athletes. It informs the development of equipment and apparel that support or enhance the function of these key muscle groups.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing for athletic performance, particularly in sprinting, prioritize features that support or enhance the function of the lateral abdominal, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and pectineus muscles.
- What were the main findings?
- T2 values increased significantly in lateral abdominal, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, rectus femoris, tensor fasciae latae, sartorius, and pectineus muscles after sprinting.. Lateral abdominals, psoas major, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and pectineus exhibited the highest levels of muscle activity.
- What research method was used?
- Experimental (Pre-test/Post-test design with imaging) with 10 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Journal of Human Kinetics.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing sports equipment or training aids for sprinters, consider how the design interacts with and supports the identified key trunk and pelvis muscles.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focused only on male sprinters, and the findings may not be generalizable to female athletes or other populations. MRI measures indirect indicators of muscle activity.