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Increased sprint performance with false step in collegiate athletes trained to forward step
Aaron Schwenzfeier1, Jesse Lee Rhoades1, John Fitzgerald1
1Department of Education, Health & Behavior Studies, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA.
Sports Biomechanics
|March 6, 2020
Summary
The athletic "false step," a backward step before sprinting, significantly improves sprint times by 9.44%. This technique enhances acceleration and may be a beneficial strategy for athletes seeking a faster start.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Athletic Performance
Background:
- Rapid acceleration is critical for athletic success.
- The
- false step
- (a backward step before sprinting) is debated among coaches for its utility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of the false step versus a forward step in initiating sprints.
- To analyze the biomechanical differences between these two starting techniques.
Main Methods:
- Thirty college-aged student-athletes performed three false step and forward step sprint trials.
- Timing gates and 3D motion analysis were used to measure velocity and mechanical variables during sprint initiation.
Main Results:
- The false step resulted in significantly faster 10-meter sprint times (9.44% improvement, p < 0.001).
- Significant differences were observed in ankle angular variables between the false and forward step conditions during sprint initiation.
Conclusions:
- The false step is a beneficial technique for athletes, leading to a more rapid change in velocity.
- This study provides evidence supporting the use of the false step for enhancing sprint performance.
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