Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Relationship between push phase and final race time in skeleton performance.

Costanza Zanoletti1, Antonio La Torre, Giampiero Merati

  • 1Human Performance Lab, S.S. Mapei, Castellanza (VA), Italy.

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|August 30, 2006
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Re-establishing Confidence in Confidence Intervals: An Evaluation of Recent Practices in Sport Injury Epidemiology.

Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)·2026
Same author

Systemic relationships between ecological-dynamic approach and active reflection: psycho-neuro-motor, cognitive, and physiological interactions in rugby pedagogy.

Frontiers in sports and active living·2026
Same author

Specific Quintuple: An On-Field Test to Predict Triple Jump Performance with High Accuracy.

Journal of human kinetics·2026
Same author

Lateral Dominance and Cognitive-Motor Performance in Elite Athletes: A Virtual Reality Study.

Perceptual and motor skills·2026
Same author

Methodological Considerations for Studies in Sport and Exercise Science with Women as Participants Part II: Guidance for Applied Studies in Elite Female Athletes.

Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)·2026
Same author

Towards High-Accuracy Athletic Injury Predictions Using a First-Principles Modelling Approach: Theory to (Future) Practice.

Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)·2026

A fast start is crucial for skeleton performance, but improvements in push-time don't guarantee top results. Strength and power training are key, but focusing solely on the push phase may not enhance overall race performance.

Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Biomechanics
  • Athletic Performance

Background:

  • The push phase is a critical determinant of success in skeleton racing.
  • Understanding the relationship between push-time and final race time is essential for optimizing athlete training and selection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between push-time and final race time in elite skeleton athletes.
  • To compare physical characteristics and experience across skeleton, bobsleigh, and luge athletes.
  • To determine the impact of push-phase improvements on overall race performance.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed split data from men's and women's skeleton competitions.
  • Calculated correlations between push-time and final race time.
  • Compared anthropometric data (mass, height, age) and experience of athletes across sliding sports.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Significant moderate correlations found between push-time and final race time in both men (r=0.48) and women (r=0.63).
  • No correlation observed between changes in push-time and changes in final race time between heats.
  • Bobsleigh athletes are heavier; luge athletes are younger and more experienced than skeleton athletes.

Conclusions:

  • A fast push phase is a prerequisite for success in skeleton.
  • Athlete selection based on explosive acceleration is valid, but improved push-time alone doesn't ensure top rankings.
  • Strength and power training are vital for maintaining a short push-time; however, additional push-phase specific training may not yield further performance gains. Recruiting younger athletes and increasing youth competition could be beneficial.