Short Distance Running Biomechanics

Short Distance Running

Sports biomechanics is one of the most important components in the field of sports since it provides insights regarding human movement using an injury reduction and performance enhancement perspective. Consequently, coaches and physicians utilize information regarding sports biomechanics to understand the athletes’ correct and incorrect technique. Most of the existing research on sports biomechanics generate insights regarding the basic kinetic and kinematic attributes of specific athletic movement. Short distance running or sprinting is always associated with power and speed since it entails quick acceleration followed a maintenance of velocity. While existing biomechanics research provides insights regarding basic kinetic and kinematic attributes, the inter-individual differences across various levels of performance remains largely unknown. This study focuses on examining the biomechanics variations in the starting ability of short distance runners.
Importance of the Study
The evaluation of the biomechanics differences in the starting ability of short distance runners is an important topic of research as part of biomechanics research for performance enhancement. This study should be carried out to help understand why short distance runners have varying starting abilities though they constantly perform a predetermined set position. This would help in understanding the difference between faster (elite) and slower (sub-elite) short distance runners.
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is to explore the differences between the starting abilities of faster and slower short distance runners based on kinetics and kinematics linked to take-off. This study would make significant contributions to existing literature on characteristics that distinguish faster short distance runners from slower ones.
Hypothesis
In light of the purpose of the study, the hypothesis that will guide this research is, “Start kinetics play a major role in the starting ability variations between faster short distance runners and slower short distance runners.”
Literature Review
Majumdar & Robergs (2011) conducted a study in which they examined the science of speed with respect to performance in the 100m sprint. These researchers found that performance in short distance running, particularly 100m sprint, is influenced by numerous factors including neural influences, physiological demands, starting strategy, track and environmental conditions, stride length, anthropometrics, stride frequency, and muscle composition. Additionally, this study found that biomechanics play an important role in sprinting performance and contributes to the differences between faster and slower sprinters. In an earlier study, Murphy, Lockie & Coutts (2003) found that early acceleration in field sport athletes including sprinters affect sprinting performance. The kinematic determinants of differences in acceleration performance include stride length and frequency and knee extension (Weyand et al., 2000, Murphy, Lockie & Coutts, 2003). According to Petersen, Sorensen & Nielsen (2015), faster and slower speed running is determined by knee joint loads per slide and increases in cumulative load. Coh et al. (2017) provide a different perspective on this issue by arguing that force production is the kinetic that contributes to greater variations between sprinters instead of kinematics. This study demonstrates that the significant difference between faster sprinters and slower sprinters is kinetics in terms of greater force production and sprint start motor performance. These studies highlight the key role of biomechanics in the differences between faster and slower sprinters.
Methods
The researcher seeks to conduct a quantitative study that will help in exploring this issue and achieving the aims of the study. The independent variable is start kinetics, which will be measured quantitatively while the dependent variable is the starting abilities of sprinters or short distance runners. The research design to be utilized in this study is quantitative experimental research design in which the impact of the independent variable (start kinetics) on the dependent variable (starting ability of sprinters) will be collected and examined for a relationship. The researcher will enlist a group of participants from the national athletics team (faster/elite sprinters) and those from regional clubs (slower/sub-elite sprinters). In this regard, the sample will be identified through random sampling, which gives every individual in target population equal chances of being selected to participate in the study. The sample will be aged between 20-25 years, healthy runners with an average weight of 75-80kg and a height of approximately 1.83m tall. These demographics will be taken into consideration since they are characteristics of a typical world-class sprinter.
Data will be collected from the participants through the use of retro-reflective markers that were attached to the right-hand of each participant. The data collection took place during a sprint test in an indoor gymnasium, which contained several video cameras mounted on tripods that were utilized to collect data. During the sprint test, the participants will complete two sprint trials within a distance of 20 meters. However, these participants will be required to complete a 15-minute warm-up session prior to the sprint trials and maintain normal intake of foods and fluids at least 24 hours before the test. Data collected from each group of participants i.e. faster sprinters and slower sprinters will be subjected to kinematic analysis (Murphy, Lockie & Coutts, 2003). The reliability and validity of this measures for assessment of the variables of interest was ensured through conducting descriptive statistics for all the variables as well as performing test-retest reliability of the start position and kinetics.





References
Coh et al. (2017, March 12). Biomechanical Differences in the Sprint Start Between Faster and Slower High-Level Sprinters. Journal of Human Kinetics, 59, 29-38.
Majumdar, A.S. & Robergs, R.A. (2011). The Science of Speed: Determinants of Performance in the 100m Sprint. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 6(3), 479-493.
Murphy, A.J., Lockie, R.G. & Coutts, A.J. (2003). Kinematic Determinants of Early Acceleration in Field Sport Athletes. Journal of Sports & Medicine, 2, 144-150.
Peterson, J., Sorensen, H. & Nielsen, R.O. (2015). Cumulative Loads Increase at the Knee Joint With Slow-Speed Running Compared to Faster Running: A Biomechanical Study. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 45(4), 316-322.
Weyand et al. (2000, November 1). Faster Top Running Speeds are Achieved with Greater Ground Forces not More Rapid Leg Movements. Journal of Applied Physiology, 89(5). Retrieved from http://jap.physiology.org/content/89/5/1991