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Category

Modelling / Simulation

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

Humans become relatively weaker as they increase in size. Despite this, simulations have shown that increased size is of benefit in vertical jumping when isometric scaling is employed due to beneficial effects on the shortening velocity of muscles. Human body mass scales allometrically with the square of stature and it is shown that, assuming constant body composition, strength scales as a function of stature and independently of width and depth. A four-segment planar torque-driven computer model was used to simulate squat jump performance. Body dimensions were scaled allometrically to stature ±3 standard deviations from the mean stature of a young European male (178.8 cm ± 7.22 cm). An increase in stature of 43.4 cm led to a 5.8 cm improvement in flight height, but a reduction in the relative peak power and average vertical acceleration of the mass centre. Increased stature may therefore be of benefit in developing high centre of mass velocities, but a disadvantage in acceleration.

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