Throws in athletics are dynamic events demanding force, velocity and high level of power output. The force-velocity relationship was generally investigated to characterise muscular qualities. In order to test upper and lower limbs a horizontal guided barbell could be used ( Rahmani et al. 2001, Izquierdo et al. 2002, Terzis et al. 2003). A significant relationship between shot put performance and triceps brachii power production has been evidenced by Terzis et al. (2003). However the subjects were not specialists in throw. The aim of this study was to establish a relationship between muscular characteristics of upper and lower limbs and the best performance into a group of highly trained discus throwers. Methods 9 male discus throwers competing at national level (23.2 ± 2.2 years ; 184.8 ± 3.9 cm ; 97.4 ± 9.3 kg) accustomed to resistance exercise training, participated to this study. They performed a half squat and a bench press test under an horizontal guided barbell. The vertical displacement of the barbell was recorded by an optical encoder according to the method proposed by Bosco et al. (1995) and validated by Rahmani et al. (2000). The maximal contraction velocity V0 and the maximal contraction force F0 were extrapolated from the force-velocity relationships. The peak power Ppeak, was the highest value of power measured from the bench press and half squat test. Two significant relationships were evidenced. The lower limb Ppeak related to body mass was significantly correlated with discus throw performance (r = 0.906, P < 0.001 ; Figure 1). Bench press V0 was significantly correlated with the season throwing performance (r = 0.767, P < 0.05 ; Figure 2). Discussion/Conclusion The upper and lower muscular characteristics seemed to be significantly related to the throwing performance. The present results demonstrate that Ppeak related to body mass for lower limb and V0 for upper limb were significantly correlated with discus throw performance. They emphasised the importance of lower limb power production to accelerate the discus during the movement, and the importance of upper limb velocity ability on the final acceleration of the discus occurring during the last phase of the movement just before the release.
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