Changes in walking speed and mechanical energy flow of male race walkers during 20km race

Abstract

    The purpose of this study was to investigate technical factors relating to the maintenance of walking speed in race walking in official 20km races. Thirty-five elite race walkers were analyzed as subjects by using VTR camera (60 Hz) at 4-8km and 14-18km point during 20km official race. The results were as follows.
    Decreases in the recovery hip and knee joint torques resulted in decreases in the backward joint forces at the hip and knee, which decreased the joint force power at the recovery hip and knee and the mechanical energy flow from the recovery leg to the torso during the second half of the recovery phase. Therefore, decreases in the joint force at the recovery hip and knee decreased the mechanical energy flow, which might lead to decrease in the walking speed.