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Kinematic Analysis of Support Phase Characteristics in Women Race Walking

Received: 14 March 2020     Accepted: 27 March 2020     Published: 13 April 2020
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Abstract

Race walking requires a great deal of effort to compete successfully which includes a unique combination of technique, extreme physical exertion and mental focus. Unlike running, race walking is composed by support phase (heel strike, mid-stance and toe off) and swing phase. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between different kinematic characteristics of support phase during race walking and walking velocity. The rules of race walking demand that no visible flight time should occur and the stance leg must be straightened from initial contact to midstance. Previous research has not examined whether these rules also have an effect on walking performance and what consequences might arise. Top ten (U-20 Girls) finishers of 10000m race walk discipline, 33rd National Junior Athletic Championships, 2017 held at Acharya Nagarjuna University, Vijaywada, A. P. India were recorded by using two Nikon digital 4K camcorders (60 Hz) mounted on rigid tripods were placed alongside of the course at approximately 90° to the plane of motion. The junior athletes were analyzed by using motion analysis software (KINOVEA 0.8.27). Descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient (p<0.05) were employed for statistical calculation. The tabulation of data was done by using the IBM SPSS 25 software. The result of the study revealed that, women athlete’s performance were affected by the long contact phase duration (Mean=0.33 s (±) 0.05). This factor relativity creates hindrances in propulsive phase. A negative association (r= -0.49) found between contact time and average speed. As expected, due to the technical rules of this discipline knee angel at heel contact is significantly correlated with velocity as the calculated r value was 0.709* (Critical value at 8 df r = 0.632). Whereas, at mid stance phase a negative correlation found between knee angle and walking performance that sketch a hyper extended knee. However, a positive linear relationship found in variables like, hip angle, elbow angle at heel contact and mid stance phase with walking velocity. But, a less economical technique observed in toe off phase for almost every variable as those were negatively associated with mean speed, and so a balance between those fundamental techniques of support phase variables is advisable. The race walkers had shorter swing times, longer contact times, and smaller maximum knee flexion angles (152° ± 7.32) than the distance runners. The smaller knee flexion angles in race walkers meant they experienced greater swing leg moment of inertia than the distance runners.

Published in American Journal of Sports Science (Volume 8, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajss.20200801.14
Page(s) 22-28
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Gait Cycle, Pedestrian, Vertical Upright Position, Propulsion Etc.

References
[1] Brisswalter, J.; Fougeron, B., & Legros, P. (1998). Variability in energy cost and walking gait during race walking in competitive race walkers, Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 30 (9): 1451-1455.
[2] Cairns, M.; Burdette, R.; Pisciotta, J., & Simon, S. (1986). A biomechanical analysis of racewalking gait, Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 18 (4): 446-453.
[3] De Angelis, M., & Menchinelli, C. (1992). Times of flight, frequency and length of stride in race walking. In R. Rodano (ed.), Proceedings of the X international symposium of biomechanics in sports. Milan (Italy).
[4] Hanley, B., & Bissas, A. (2017). Analysis of lower limb work-energy patterns in world-class race walkers. Journal of Sports Sciences, 35 (10), 1–7.
[5] Hanley, B.; Bissas, A. & Drake, A. (2013). Kinematic characteristics of elite men’s 50 km race walking. European Journal of Sport Science, 13 (3): 272-279.
[6] Hanley, B.; Bissas, A. (2012). Differences between body segment parameter models in analysing elite race walkers in competition, Gazzetta Medica italiana, 171 (5): 541-550.
[7] Hoga, K., Ae, M., Enomoto, Y. Fujii, N. (2003) Mechanical energy flow in the recovery leg of elite race walkers. Sports Biomechanics, 2 (1), 1-13. 3 (1), 53-59.
[8] Hopkins, W., Marshall, S., Batterham, A., & Hanin, J. (2009). Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41 (1), 3.
[9] Huajing, z. & Lizhong, G. (1991). Marching out of Asia and into the world. New Studies in Athletics, 6 (3): 25-33.. LASSEN, P. (1990). Race walking: great progress – and more to come. New Studies in Athletics, 5 (3): 7-9.
[10] Lafortune, M., Cochrane, A., & Wright, A. (1989). Selected biomechanical parameters of race walking. Excel, 5, 15-17.
[11] Larsen GE, George JD, Alexander JL, Fellingham GW, Aldana SG & Parcell AC. Prediction of Maximum Oxygen Consumption from Walking, Jogging, or Running. Research Quaterly for Exercise and Sports Journal. 2002; Vol-73, Issue-1: 66-72.
[12] Payne, H., and Payne, R. (1981) Walks. In Payne, H. and Payne, R. (Eds.) The science of track and field athletic.
[13] Salvage, J., Bolwicaski, B., Robertson, G., Whatley, I., and Westerfield, G. (2000) Race Walking. In Hambly, L. (Eds.) USA Track & field coaching manual. Human kinetics, Champain, Illinois, pp. 281-286.
[14] Summers, H. (1991). Placement of the leading foot in race walking. Modern Athlete and Coach, 29 (1), 33–35.
[15] White, S. C. & Winter, D. (1985). Mechanical power analysis of the lower limb musculature in race walking, International Journal of Sport Biomechanics, 1 (1): 15-24.
[16] World Athletics (International Association of Athletics Federation, IAAF). Competition rules 2017. www.worldathletics.org. Competitions and technical rules 2020.
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    Dibendu Kr. Bej. (2020). Kinematic Analysis of Support Phase Characteristics in Women Race Walking. American Journal of Sports Science, 8(1), 22-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20200801.14

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    Dibendu Kr. Bej. Kinematic Analysis of Support Phase Characteristics in Women Race Walking. Am. J. Sports Sci. 2020, 8(1), 22-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ajss.20200801.14

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    AMA Style

    Dibendu Kr. Bej. Kinematic Analysis of Support Phase Characteristics in Women Race Walking. Am J Sports Sci. 2020;8(1):22-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ajss.20200801.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajss.20200801.14,
      author = {Dibendu Kr. Bej},
      title = {Kinematic Analysis of Support Phase Characteristics in Women Race Walking},
      journal = {American Journal of Sports Science},
      volume = {8},
      number = {1},
      pages = {22-28},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajss.20200801.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20200801.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajss.20200801.14},
      abstract = {Race walking requires a great deal of effort to compete successfully which includes a unique combination of technique, extreme physical exertion and mental focus. Unlike running, race walking is composed by support phase (heel strike, mid-stance and toe off) and swing phase. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between different kinematic characteristics of support phase during race walking and walking velocity. The rules of race walking demand that no visible flight time should occur and the stance leg must be straightened from initial contact to midstance. Previous research has not examined whether these rules also have an effect on walking performance and what consequences might arise. Top ten (U-20 Girls) finishers of 10000m race walk discipline, 33rd National Junior Athletic Championships, 2017 held at Acharya Nagarjuna University, Vijaywada, A. P. India were recorded by using two Nikon digital 4K camcorders (60 Hz) mounted on rigid tripods were placed alongside of the course at approximately 90° to the plane of motion. The junior athletes were analyzed by using motion analysis software (KINOVEA 0.8.27). Descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient (p<0.05) were employed for statistical calculation. The tabulation of data was done by using the IBM SPSS 25 software. The result of the study revealed that, women athlete’s performance were affected by the long contact phase duration (Mean=0.33 s (±) 0.05). This factor relativity creates hindrances in propulsive phase. A negative association (r= -0.49) found between contact time and average speed. As expected, due to the technical rules of this discipline knee angel at heel contact is significantly correlated with velocity as the calculated r value was 0.709* (Critical value at 8 df r = 0.632). Whereas, at mid stance phase a negative correlation found between knee angle and walking performance that sketch a hyper extended knee. However, a positive linear relationship found in variables like, hip angle, elbow angle at heel contact and mid stance phase with walking velocity. But, a less economical technique observed in toe off phase for almost every variable as those were negatively associated with mean speed, and so a balance between those fundamental techniques of support phase variables is advisable. The race walkers had shorter swing times, longer contact times, and smaller maximum knee flexion angles (152° ± 7.32) than the distance runners. The smaller knee flexion angles in race walkers meant they experienced greater swing leg moment of inertia than the distance runners.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Kinematic Analysis of Support Phase Characteristics in Women Race Walking
    AU  - Dibendu Kr. Bej
    Y1  - 2020/04/13
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20200801.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajss.20200801.14
    T2  - American Journal of Sports Science
    JF  - American Journal of Sports Science
    JO  - American Journal of Sports Science
    SP  - 22
    EP  - 28
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8540
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20200801.14
    AB  - Race walking requires a great deal of effort to compete successfully which includes a unique combination of technique, extreme physical exertion and mental focus. Unlike running, race walking is composed by support phase (heel strike, mid-stance and toe off) and swing phase. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between different kinematic characteristics of support phase during race walking and walking velocity. The rules of race walking demand that no visible flight time should occur and the stance leg must be straightened from initial contact to midstance. Previous research has not examined whether these rules also have an effect on walking performance and what consequences might arise. Top ten (U-20 Girls) finishers of 10000m race walk discipline, 33rd National Junior Athletic Championships, 2017 held at Acharya Nagarjuna University, Vijaywada, A. P. India were recorded by using two Nikon digital 4K camcorders (60 Hz) mounted on rigid tripods were placed alongside of the course at approximately 90° to the plane of motion. The junior athletes were analyzed by using motion analysis software (KINOVEA 0.8.27). Descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient (p<0.05) were employed for statistical calculation. The tabulation of data was done by using the IBM SPSS 25 software. The result of the study revealed that, women athlete’s performance were affected by the long contact phase duration (Mean=0.33 s (±) 0.05). This factor relativity creates hindrances in propulsive phase. A negative association (r= -0.49) found between contact time and average speed. As expected, due to the technical rules of this discipline knee angel at heel contact is significantly correlated with velocity as the calculated r value was 0.709* (Critical value at 8 df r = 0.632). Whereas, at mid stance phase a negative correlation found between knee angle and walking performance that sketch a hyper extended knee. However, a positive linear relationship found in variables like, hip angle, elbow angle at heel contact and mid stance phase with walking velocity. But, a less economical technique observed in toe off phase for almost every variable as those were negatively associated with mean speed, and so a balance between those fundamental techniques of support phase variables is advisable. The race walkers had shorter swing times, longer contact times, and smaller maximum knee flexion angles (152° ± 7.32) than the distance runners. The smaller knee flexion angles in race walkers meant they experienced greater swing leg moment of inertia than the distance runners.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, W.B., India

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