Following Newton’s second law of motion, horizontal CoM acceleration requires net propulsive forces to be applied to the body of the athlete in the running direction. If force application is accompanied by motion of the sprinter, mechanical work is performed. Completing a given quantity of work in less time corresponds to an increase in average power generation over that period, so this parameter is considered an excellent descriptor of SP in sprinters . Muscle tissue is capable of converting metabolic energy into mechanical work at high rates during contraction , which makes muscle–fascicle contraction crucial for developing high CoM acceleration from a resting position. Elastic components of the muscle tendon units, but also elastic materials utilized in the dedicated running-specific prostheses (RSPs) of amputee sprinters (ASs) can store and return energy. However, they cannot increase the potential or kinetic energy of the sprinter from rest unless they have been pre-loaded by means of co-contraction prior to the initiation of the acceleration task. Given the relatively small forces applied to the blocks in the set position, pre-loading amplitudes are relatively low when compared to the forces exerted during the push-off phase . Therefore, while the efficient energy storage and return provided by RSPs is beneficial in longer events like the 400 m where a high level of running economy is required , it seems theoretically improbable that they would allow ASs to achieve the levels of performance seen in top NASs during the sprint start. In line with this hypothesis, Taboga, Grabowski, di Prampero, & Kram  found that, during the block phase, unilateral below-knee, mostly sub-elite amputees performed worse than performance-matched NASs. Nevertheless, the current literature lacks empirical evidence for reduced SP in ASs at the elite level, as well as for athletes with bilateral or transfemoral amputations. Furthermore, detailed descriptions of the mechanisms underlying impaired SP in ASs are also lacking.