Anthropometric, muscle power and kinematic characteristics of visually impaired sprinters and their guides: Case studies

This study aimed to characterize the anthropometric, muscle power, and kinematic profiles of visually impaired sprinters (AVI) and their guides (GA) during the 100-meter dash. Three male guide pairs participated, all with national and international experience: Pair 1: AVI (T12); Pair 2: AVI (T11); Pair 3: (T11). Assessments included: (a) anthropometry, (b) lower-limb muscle power via countermovement jump (CMJ), and (c) kinematic analysis during an official 100-meter race using a global positioning system (GPS). GAs generally exhibited greater height, body mass, and longer lower limbs compared to AVIs. Except for Pair 3, GAs demonstrated superior CMJ performance and lower-limb power output. Peak running velocity (PV) was comparable across pairs, but AVI in Pair 1 and 2 achieved PV faster than their GAs. Pair 3 displayed pronounced asymmetries in instantaneous velocity and acceleration between AVI and GA during the race. The synchronization is influenced by experience duration, anthropometric compatibility, and muscle power disparities.