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The Role of Upper Body Biomechanics in Elite Racewalkers

The aim of this study was to analyze the link between the upper and lower body during racewalking. Fifteen male and 16 female racewalkers were recorded in a laboratory as they racewalked at speeds equivalent to their 20-km personal records [men: 1:23:12 (±2:45); women: 1:34:18 (±5:15)]; a single rep...

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Autores principales: Gravestock, Helen J., Tucker, Catherine B., Hanley, Brian
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8299067/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34308349
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.702743
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author Gravestock, Helen J.
Tucker, Catherine B.
Hanley, Brian
author_facet Gravestock, Helen J.
Tucker, Catherine B.
Hanley, Brian
author_sort Gravestock, Helen J.
collection PubMed
description The aim of this study was to analyze the link between the upper and lower body during racewalking. Fifteen male and 16 female racewalkers were recorded in a laboratory as they racewalked at speeds equivalent to their 20-km personal records [men: 1:23:12 (±2:45); women: 1:34:18 (±5:15)]; a single representative trial was chosen from each athlete for analysis and averaged data analyzed. Spatial variables (e.g., stride length) were normalized to stature and referred to as ratios. None of the peak upper body joint angles were associated with speed (p < 0.05) and there were no correlations between pelvic motion and speed, but a medium relationship was observed between peak pelvic external rotation (right pelvis rotated backwards) and stride length ratio (r = 0.37). Greater peak shoulder extension was associated with lower stride frequencies (r = −0.47) and longer swing times (r = 0.41), whereas peak elbow flexion had medium associations with flight time (r = −0.44). Latissimus dorsi was the most active muscle at toe-off during peak shoulder flexion; by contrast, pectoralis major increased in activity just before initial contact, concurrent with peak shoulder extension. Consistent but relatively low rectus abdominis and external oblique activation was present throughout the stride, but increased in preparation for initial contact during late swing. The movements of the pelvic girdle were important for optimizing spatiotemporal variables, showing that this exaggerated movement allows for greater stride lengths. Racewalkers should note however that a larger range of shoulder swing movements was found to be associated with lower stride frequency, and smaller elbow angles with increased flight time, which could be indicative of faster walking but can also lead to visible loss of contact. Coaches should remember that racewalking is an endurance event and development of resistance to fatigue might be more important than strength development.
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spelling pubmed-82990672021-07-24 The Role of Upper Body Biomechanics in Elite Racewalkers Gravestock, Helen J. Tucker, Catherine B. Hanley, Brian Front Sports Act Living Sports and Active Living The aim of this study was to analyze the link between the upper and lower body during racewalking. Fifteen male and 16 female racewalkers were recorded in a laboratory as they racewalked at speeds equivalent to their 20-km personal records [men: 1:23:12 (±2:45); women: 1:34:18 (±5:15)]; a single representative trial was chosen from each athlete for analysis and averaged data analyzed. Spatial variables (e.g., stride length) were normalized to stature and referred to as ratios. None of the peak upper body joint angles were associated with speed (p < 0.05) and there were no correlations between pelvic motion and speed, but a medium relationship was observed between peak pelvic external rotation (right pelvis rotated backwards) and stride length ratio (r = 0.37). Greater peak shoulder extension was associated with lower stride frequencies (r = −0.47) and longer swing times (r = 0.41), whereas peak elbow flexion had medium associations with flight time (r = −0.44). Latissimus dorsi was the most active muscle at toe-off during peak shoulder flexion; by contrast, pectoralis major increased in activity just before initial contact, concurrent with peak shoulder extension. Consistent but relatively low rectus abdominis and external oblique activation was present throughout the stride, but increased in preparation for initial contact during late swing. The movements of the pelvic girdle were important for optimizing spatiotemporal variables, showing that this exaggerated movement allows for greater stride lengths. Racewalkers should note however that a larger range of shoulder swing movements was found to be associated with lower stride frequency, and smaller elbow angles with increased flight time, which could be indicative of faster walking but can also lead to visible loss of contact. Coaches should remember that racewalking is an endurance event and development of resistance to fatigue might be more important than strength development. Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-07-09 /pmc/articles/PMC8299067/ /pubmed/34308349 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.702743 Text en Copyright © 2021 Gravestock, Tucker and Hanley. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
spellingShingle Sports and Active Living
Gravestock, Helen J.
Tucker, Catherine B.
Hanley, Brian
The Role of Upper Body Biomechanics in Elite Racewalkers
title The Role of Upper Body Biomechanics in Elite Racewalkers
title_full The Role of Upper Body Biomechanics in Elite Racewalkers
title_fullStr The Role of Upper Body Biomechanics in Elite Racewalkers
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Upper Body Biomechanics in Elite Racewalkers
title_short The Role of Upper Body Biomechanics in Elite Racewalkers
title_sort role of upper body biomechanics in elite racewalkers
topic Sports and Active Living
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8299067/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34308349
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.702743
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