102 Evaluation and Quantification of Running Form

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to know the relationships between subjective evaluations and three dimensional kinetics and kinematics data of running motion. We captured three dimensional kinetics and kinematics data of running motion of 35 average runners. At the same moment, we recorded video pictures of running to apply to subjective evaluation test. We selected 12 persons as evaluators of these pictures. They had enough experience of coaching or had sufficient knowledge of biomechanics. In rating, there were totally 9 descriptions (Pace, Style, Secure, Rhythm, Relax, Dynamic, Smooth, Balance, Total) in the 7-grade evaluation. The results of subjective evaluation of running motion were classified into only 2 parameters ('Dynamic' and 'Secure') by means of factor analysis. For each representative parameter, correlation coefficients with all kinetics and kinematics parameters were calculated and screen out the inessentials. As a result, these parameters were classified into 10 groups by means of multiple regression analysis and we calculated multiple regression equation on these parameters. Finally, we calculated multiple regression equation of 'Total' composed of 'Dynamic' and 'Secure'. The determination coefficient value of equation was 0.84 using a 0.01 level of significances. These results suggested that it was possible to quantify the running motion accurately by subjective evaluations.