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News22 Apr 2009


The biomechanics of elite race walking: technique analysis and the effects of fatigue

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The aim of this study was to measure and analyse the important kinematic variables in elite race walking. Video recordings of eighty athletes were taken during Men’s 20km, Women’s 20km and Men’s 50km competitions at the 7th European Cup Race Walking in 2007. Stride length, stride frequency, positions of the body segments and joint angles were analysed. Among the findings were that the fastest athletes had stride lengths of approximately 70% of body height and were able to maintain high stride frequencies. Joint angles did not appear to be important to walking speed; instead, the speed of movements at the joints was significant. Twelve competitors in each race were analysed at three other points in their races to assess the effects of fatigue on technique. On average, all groups of athletes slowed down as the race progressed. In men, this was mostly due to shorter stride lengths; in women, it was due to lower stride frequencies. Nearly all athletes adhered to the straight leg rule of race walking but most had short, normally undetectable flight times. The 50km men had knee contact angles that decreased significantly with fatigue; this leads to an increased risk of disqualification.
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