Abstract
This study investigated the short-term responses of step characteristics in sprinters and team-sports players under different bend conditions. Eight participants from each group completed 80 m sprints in four conditions: banked and flat, in lanes two and four (L2B, L4B, L2F, L4F). Groups showed similar changes in step velocity (SV) across conditions and limbs. However, sprinters produced significantly shorter ground contact times (GCT) than team sports players in L2B and L4B for both left (0.123 s vs 0.145 s and 0.123 s vs 0.140 s) and right steps (0.115 s vs 0.136 s and 0.120 s vs 0.141 s) (p > 0.001–0.029; ES = 1.15–1.37). Across both groups, SV was generally lower in flat conditions compared to banked (Left: 7.21 m/s vs 6.82 m/s and Right: 7.31 m/s vs 7.09 m/s in lane two), occurring due to reduced step length (SL) rather than step frequency (SF), suggesting that banking improves SV via increased SL. Sprinters produced significantly shorter GCT in banked conditions that led to non-significant increases in SF and SV, highlighting the importance of bend sprinting specific conditioning and training environments representative of indoor competition for sprint athletes.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 519-525 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Sports Sciences |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 6 |
Early online date | 17 Jun 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 31 Dec 2023 |
Funding
The authors would like to thank the International Society of Biomechanics in Sport for funding this project with the Developing Researcher Mobility Grant in 2019.
Funders | Funder number |
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International Society of Biomechanics in Sport |
Keywords
- Athletics
- indoor competition
- specificity
- training
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation