We examined the influence of court side and target location of the ball on the coordination and control of the tennis serve. Five male and five female experienced players performed 10 'first-serves' to centre and wide targets. 3D kinematics of the service were analysed from two frames of reference: joint position (v) and joint angle (ω) with emphasis on the qualitative aspects of movement coordination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPelvic running injuries often require extensive rehabilitation and pelvic girdle pain is a barrier to running engagement in population sub-groups, such as perinatal women. However, exploration into how external pelvic loading may be altered during running is limited. This study assessed which biomechanical variables influence changes in external peak pelvic acceleration during treadmill running, across various stride frequency conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe studied novice gymnasts (N = 25) learning to form the longswing movement coordination pattern. The focus was the emerging behavioural organisation of centre of mass (CM) dynamics and the relative phase of the bar-CM angular motion. Seven novices learned a complete longswing by the end of the study, 8 novices showed no improvement in proportion of circle completed, and the remainder produced modest but persistent increments of final swing height without achieving a full circle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis paper is Part II of a study of the effects of practice on young adult novice gymnasts learning the movement coordination pattern of the longswing. The focus was the early stage of learning a critical component of the longswing, namely: through joint motion to inject mechanical energy into the upswing segment effectively to complete the longswing circle. Twenty-five novice male gymnasts received expert instruction while practicing two sessions a week for 3 weeks between a pre- and a post-practice assessment test trial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim was to investigate the kinematic factors associated with successful performance in the initial acceleration phase of a sprint in the best male athletes in the World at the 2018 World Indoor Athletics Championships. High speed video (150 Hz) was captured for eight sprinters in the men's 60 m final. Spatio-temporal and joint kinematic variables were calculated from the set position to the end of the first ground contact post-block exit (GC1).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSuccessful sprinting depends on covering a specific distance in the shortest time possible. Although external forces are key to sprinting, less consideration is given to the duration of force application, which influences the impulse generated. This study explored relationships between sprint performance measures and external kinetic and kinematic performance indicators.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of the inclusion of a high hurdle 13.72 m after the start line on elite sprint start and initial acceleration technique has yet to be investigated or understood. This highly novel study addresses that lack of information in an exceptional manner, through detailed biomechanical analysis of the world's best sprint and hurdle athletes, with data collected at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships, held in Birmingham, UK.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to investigate spatiotemporal and kinematic changes between the initial acceleration, transition and maximum velocity phases of a sprint. Sagittal plane kinematics from five experienced sprinters performing 50-m maximal sprints were collected using six HD-video cameras. Following manual digitising, spatiotemporal and kinematic variables at touchdown and toe-off were calculated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Sports Physiol Perform
August 2018
Background: Artificial turf is considered a feasible global alternative to natural turf by many sports governing bodies. Consequently, its ability to provide a safe and consistent playing surface regardless of climate becomes essential. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of artificial surface temperature on: (1) mechanical properties of the turf and (2) the kinematics of a turf-sport related movement.
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