Anyone understand enough physiology to explain why high calf insertion = high vert?

[Green Monkey]

In my experience, folks with high calf insertion are powerful jumpers and sprinters, but why?

Is the high insertion an indicator of a certain muscle type?

Does it give some sort of mechanical advantage?

Does anyone know?

 

[takeahnase]

Supposedly higher calf insertion = longer achilles = higher vert. I don't know if the first equation is true and I don't know what mechanics lead the second to be true - if it is.

 

[Green Monkey]

I've heard the same, just no explanation.

 

[jk3004]

Um, lift more noob?

 

[mschatz]

read the FAQ

 

[PhxJudoJujitsu]

It means better biomechanics, the longer achillies allows for greater force production

 

[JPC]

More elasticity. The longer achillese acts like a rubber band when stretched.

 

[Lard-ass]

do you by high insertion, mean that the calf muscle is visibly located higher up on the leg or what? Like some ppls gunz are more "peaked" while others run all the way down to the elbow??

 

[DEVILsSON]

akin to kangaroos....longer tendons allow for greater elastic tissue....energy storage....force production...

 

[Green Monkey]

do you by high insertion, mean that the calf muscle is visibly located higher up on the leg or what? Like some ppls gunz are more "peaked" while others run all the way down to the elbow??

Think about the way MJ's calves looked - little and a long way from his heel.

 

[Green Monkey]

akin to kangaroos....longer tendons allow for greater elastic tissue....energy storage....force production...

That said, why does it matter so much if calves aren't really the "jumping" muscles?

Are there any other muscular/physio. setups/designs that lead to other bio-mech advantage?

All I can think of is limb-length, but that's not exactly a bio-mech advantage, more of a ROM kinda thing.

 

[PhxJudoJujitsu]

Does a Green Monkey trump a Brass Monkey?

 

[Green Monkey]

Does a Green Monkey trump a Brass Monkey?

Drinks them.

 

[muay thai chris]

check out this guys vert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU

 

[PhxJudoJujitsu]

My estrogen levels went up a little bit watching that. I now feel bloated and irratable

 

[Green Monkey]

My estrogen levels went up a little bit watching that. I now feel bloated and irratable

A midol moment?

 

[Gavin LeFever]

check out this guys vert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU

FUCKING RICK ROLLED.


DAMMIT.

 

[Dan's Knuckles]

Having an insertion further away from the joint may improve the mechanical advantage of the muscle at the joint. The gastroc,however, is a two joint muscle, so the knee position will have a significant impact on it's ability to produce force at the ankle. The soleus is primarily a slow twitch muscle(not sure) so this may not have anything to do with vertical jump height.

 

[PhxJudoJujitsu]

Having an insertion further away from the joint may improve the mechanical advantage of the muscle at the joint. The gastroc,however, is a two joint muscle, so the knee position will have a significant impact on it's ability to produce force at the ankle. The soleus is primarily a slow twitch muscle(not sure) so this may not have anything to do with vertical jump height.

Yes the soleus is a postural muscle, it's not heavily involved in locomotion

 

[Dan's Knuckles]

In my experience, folks with high calf insertion are powerful jumpers and sprinters, but why?

Is the high insertion an indicator of a certain muscle type?

Does it give some sort of mechanical advantage?

Does anyone know?

The more I read your posts the more I think you have enough knowledge to form incorrect beliefs using logic. I don't mean this as an insult. Just so you you know that "calf" muscle consists of the gastrocnemius, plantaris, and soleus muscles. The gastroc and plantaris both have origins on the femur, the soleus has it's origin on the fibula and tibia. They share a common insertion on the calcaneus via the achilles tendon. The biomechanics that can affect the ability to produce force over time are muscle fiber type, mechanical advantage, joint position, characteristics of the connective tissue (such as the elastic and plastic properties of the tendon) and neuromuscular characteristics like the ability to take advantage of the stretch shorten cycle, the ability to activate motor units in a coordinated and efficient manner, and intracellular metabolic characteristics as well as warmup and training history.