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Characterising coordination strategies during initial acceleration in sprinters ranging from highly trained to world
Byron Donaldson1, Neil Bezodis2, Helen Bayne1
1Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI) and Division of Biokinetics and Sport Science, Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Journal of Sports Sciences
|January 8, 2024
Summary
Sprinters use varied thigh-thigh and shank-foot coordination during initial acceleration. Higher performers exhibit distinct coordination patterns, offering insights for sprint training and technique optimization.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Sports Science
Background:
- Understanding sprint acceleration requires analyzing coordination strategies.
- Group-based analyses may obscure individual technical variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify sprinter subgroups based on thigh-thigh and shank-foot coordination.
- Assess sprint performance across identified coordination strategies.
Main Methods:
- Collected angular kinematics from 21 sprinters.
- Utilized vector coding and hierarchical cluster analysis for coordination.
- Analyzed step 1 and steps 2-4 separately.
- Assessed performance using velocity-time profiles.
Main Results:
- Identified three coordination strategies in step 1 and two in steps 2-4.
- Differences noted in early flight thigh-thigh and early stance shank-foot coordination (step 1).
- Timing of thigh rotation reversals characterized later steps.
- Higher performers showed greater lead thigh/foot dominance (step 1) and thigh retraction (steps 2-4).
Conclusions:
- Hierarchical cluster analysis reveals distinct sprint coordination strategies.
- Coordination patterns offer insights into initial acceleration technique.
- Findings have implications for sprint training and performance enhancement.
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