A sprinter's body orientation during the approach phase to bend section of different curvature radius

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine how a sprinter's body orientation adapts during the approach phase to bend section of different curvature radius. When they approach bend section of different curvature radius, it is assumed that the impulse of the ground reaction force of lateral component is changed at either of right or left contact phase. Similarly, their body orientation should be appropriate at a touchdown. The authors conducted an experiment to obtain five collegiate sprinters’ kinetic and kinematic parameters using 50 force platforms and the motion capture system during the approach phase to bend section of different curvature radius (radius:38.3m and 46.74m). As a result, the impulse of the ground reaction force of lateral component was changed at right contact phase during the approach phase to bend section of different curvature radius. Furthermore, their body orientation was changed at right foot touchdown. In conclusion, when they approach bend section of different curvature radius, they are likely to accommodate the impulse of the ground reaction force of lateral component at right contact phase in order to adjust degrees of the direction change at each step by changing their body orientation at right foot touchdown.