Kinematics of Elite Race Walking Brian Hanley

Kinematics of Elite Race Walking

www.european-athletics.org

Brian Hanley, Athanassios Bissas & Andi Drake [email protected]

Introduction  When trying to improve technique, it’s important to remember that race walking is very different from normal walking.

Introduction  It’s also very important to remember that race walking is different from running.

Factors in performance Race Performance Extended knee

Walking speed

Step length

Contact maintained

Cadence

Foot ahead of body

Contact time

Foot behind body Flight time Distance travelled (flight) Distance from heel to toe

Swing time

IAAF World Cup, Cheboksary, 2008

30 athletes analysed in each of the Women’s 20 km, Men’s 20 km and Men’s 50 km races. 20 km athletes were measured at 14.2 km; 50 km men at 28.2 km.

Distribution – Women / 20 km men / 50 km men

20/22/19 4/1/5

1/1/2

0/1/0

2/1/3 3/4/1

Results – general findings Speed (km/hr)

Step length (m)

Cadence (Hz)

Step length (%)

20 km Women 13.29 (± .78) 1.08 (± .05) 3.41 (± .12) 66.1 (± 3.2)

20 km Men

14.80 (± .52) 1.23 (± .05) 3.35 (± .13) 68.4 (± 2.4)

50 km Men

14.14 (± .55) 1.22 (± .06) 3.23 (± .17) 68.4 (± 3.4)

Speed was defined as the average speed of the centre of mass over two steps (left-to-right and right-to-left).

Step length was defined as the distance between one point of the gait cycle on one foot and the same point on the other foot (average of left-to-right and right-to-left). Cadence was defined as speed known as step frequency.

step length and is also

Step Length vs Speed r2 = 0.63

Step length – World Cup 2008 Cheboksary Molina

Heffernan

Ghoula

Adams

1.73 m

1.70 m

1.79 m

1.89 m

www.iaaf.org

www.racewalk.com

www.iaaf.org

www.iaaf.org

%

15.76 km/hr

15.13 km/hr

15.05 km/hr

14.91 km/hr

1.27 m

1.23 m

1.23 m

1.26 m

(73.6%)

(72.5%)

(68.8%)

(66.6%)

3.44 Hz

3.45 Hz

3.39 Hz

3.29 Hz

Step Length (% of body height) vs Speed r2 = 0.63

Flight Foot Shoe Foot ahead behind

Foot ahead (% of body height) vs Speed r2 = 0.00

Foot behind (% of body height) vs Speed

r2 = 0.17

EAA European Cup, Leamington, 2007

20 km men

20 km women

EAA European Cup, Leamington, 2007

50 km men

20 km men

20 km women

EAA European Cup, Leamington, 2007

12 athletes analysed in each of the Women’s 20 km, Men’s 20 km and Men’s 50 km races. Each of the twelve athletes were measured on four occasions.

18.5 km

28.5 km

38.5 km

48.5 km

1. Nymark

1. Nymark

1. Nymark

1. Kanaykin

4. Kanaykin

2. Kanaykin

2. Kanaykin

2. Nymark

6. De Luca

6. De Luca

6. De Luca

7. Perez

7. Janevics

8. Perez

8. Perez

8. De Luca

8. Langlois

9. Janevics

9. Langlois

10. Pinardo

10. Perez

10. Langlois

11. Pinardo

12. Boulanger

11. Boulanger

11. Pinardo

13. Boulanger

17. Janevics

13. Pinardo

13. Boulanger

14. Janevics

19. Cambil

14. Cambil

16. Cambil

22. Cambil

20. Langlois

26. Kempas

24. Kempas

24. Kempas

23. Kempas

28. Gustafsson

28. Gustafsson

27. Gustafsson

26. Gustafsson

36. Stefanopoulos

36. Stefanopoulos

36. Stefanopoulos 30. Stefanopoulos

1.26 m x 3.29 Hz

1.26 m x 3.13 Hz 1.31 m x 3.01 Hz

1.20 m x 3.12 Hz

1.27 m x 3.30 Hz

1.26 m x 3.37 Hz

1.23 m x 3.18 Hz 1.24 m x 3.11 Hz 1.29 m x 3.01 Hz

1.16 m x 3.38 Hz 1.30 m x 2.98 Hz 1.21 m x 3.10 Hz

1.20 m x 3.02 Hz

1.18 m x 3.12 Hz 1.25 m x 2.91 Hz

1.17 m x 3.07 Hz

18.5 km

Foot ahead (m)

Foot behind (m)

Pelvic 48.5 rotation(°) km

1.26 m x 3.29 Hz

+0.05

-0.01

-13

1.16 m x 3.38 Hz

1.31 m x 3.01 Hz

+0.05

-0.01

-2

1.25 m x 2.91 Hz

1.20 m x 3.12 Hz

-0.02

-0.01

-4

1.18 m x 3.12 Hz

1.26 m x 3.13 Hz

+0.03

-0.05

-5

1.17 m x 3.07 Hz

Why do step length and cadence reduce? At 18.5 km, ten of the twelve 50 km walkers analysed had loss of contact (1 @ 0.04 s; 9 @ 0.02 s) whereas at 48.5 km, only six lost contact (1 @ 0.04 s; 5 @ 0.02 s). Fatigue had little or no effect on knee angles at contact and midstance. The pelvic rotation angle was the only angular measurement to show any significant difference with fatigue. It seems that most walkers maintain the same technique throughout the race – what does change is the speed at which these movements occur.

EAA European Cup, Metz, 2009

20 athletes analysed in each of the Junior Women’s 10 km and Junior Men’s 10 km races. Athletes were measured at either the 4.5 or 6.5 km point.

10 km junior men 1. Yemelyanov

11. Dohmann

21. Schrom

31. Andrieu

2. Filipchuk

12. Blocki

22. Paloma

32. Veskus

3. Partanen

13. Amezcua

23. Gdula

33. Gaborit

4. Pohle

14. Kozlovskij

24. O’Kane

34. Lehtoranta

5. Halman

15. Holubnychyy

25. Boulch

35. Lalik

6. Di Bari

16. Lopes

26. Yuste

36. Hansson

7. Lyashchenko

17. Dziubin

27. Atli

37. Prendiville

8. Wiater

18. Loktionov

28. Chmyznikov

38. Markus

9. Macchia

19. Sauchanka

29. Riha

39. Bosworth

10. Strelkov

20. Ibanez

30. Papp

10 km junior men Top 25%

2nd 25%

3rd 25%

4th 25%

1. Yemelyanov

12. Blocki

22. Paloma

32. Veskus

3. Partanen

13. Amezcua

24. O’Kane

36. Hansson

4. Pohle

14. Kozlovskij

25. Boulch

37. Prendiville

6. Di Bari

19. Sauchanka

26. Yuste

38. Markus

8. Wiater

20. Ibanez

29. Riha

39. Bosworth

10 km junior women 1. Mineyeva

8. Kaemaka

15. Jasinksa

23. Onno

2. Turnea

10. Gradinariu

16. Svitko

24. Dennehy

4. Tsinopolou

11. Krivan

17. Martinez

25. Lada

5. Delon

13. Yerga

18. Czychy

27. Doherty

7. Curiazzi

14. Darazhuk

21. Bussu

28. Prendiville

Junior Men

Speed (km/hr)

Step length (m)

Cadence (Hz)

Top 25%

14.71 (± .55)

1.22 (± .06)

3.35 (± .15)

2nd 25%

13.63 (± .50)

1.18 (± .07)

3.22 (± .17)

3rd 25%

12.89 (± .47)

1.13 (± .05)

3.16 (± .06)

4th 25%

12.21 (± .32)

1.09 (± .04)

3.11 (± .15)

Speed (km/hr)

Step length (m)

Cadence (Hz)

Top 25%

12.82 (± .48)

1.07 (± .02)

3.34 (± .07)

2nd 25%

11.88 (± .18)

1.03 (± .03)

3.22 (± .09)

3rd 25%

11.25 (± .40)

0.99 (± .03)

3.16 (± .03)

4th 25%

10.46 (± .51)

0.94 (± .04)

3.09 (± .16)

Junior Women

Transverse plane rotations Pelvic Shoulder rotation (°) rotation (°) 20 km women

14 (± 4)

19 (± 4)

20 km men

18 (± 3)

16 (± 3)

50 km men

19 (± 4)

16 (± 3)

10 km junior men

15 (± 5)

17 (± 3)

9 (± 3)

20 (± 4)

10 km junior women

There was no correlation between pelvic rotation and either step length or speed.

Shoulder at Shoulder at Elbow at Elbow at contact (°) toe-off (°) contact (°) toe-off (°)

20 km women

-70 (± 7)

39 (± 6)

73 (± 10)

66 (± 6)

20 km men

-63 (± 7)

36 (± 5)

79 (± 9)

65 (± 7)

50 km men

-72 (± 6)

36 (± 4)

81 (± 8)

67 (± 6)

10 km junior men

-65 (± 7)

37 (± 7)

80 (± 13) 71 (± 10)

10 km junior women

-66 (± 7)

36 (± 7)

68 (± 12)

Contact Shoulder Elbow

Toe-off Shoulder Elbow

67 (± 6)

Bent knees  “...The advancing leg shall be straightened (i.e. not bent at the knee) from the moment of first contact with the ground until the vertical upright position.”

www.racewalkingrecord.net

www.upload.wikipedia.org

Vertical upright position

Midstance (vertical upright position?)

Race walking

Distance running

 Knicker & Loch (1990) considered knee angles between 175° to 185° as straightened, while Cairns et al. (1986) described knee angles greater than 175° hyperextended.  I used angles greater than 180° as hyperextended. The results from Cheboksary and Metz showed that the average percentage of time spent in hyperextension by each group was:  20 km men – 73%  20 km women – 77%  50 km men – 73%

 Junior men – 69%  Junior women – 71%

20 km Women

Knee at contact

Knee at midstance

< Yellow / Red

20 km Women

Knee at contact

А

174

196

1/0

П

179

190

0/0

Ь

175

186

0/0

Р

180

189

0/1

В

176

190

1/0

С

180

187

0/0

Г

177

187

0/0

Т

180

191

0/0

Д

177

191

0/0

У

181

193

0/0

Е

177

181

4/2

Ф

181

189

1/0

Ё

177

189

0/0

Х

181

187

0/0

Ж

178

186

0/0

Ц

182

193

0/0

З

178

192

0/0

Ч

182

195

0/0

И

178

193

0/0

Ш

182

192

0/0

К

178

188

0/0

Щ

182

191

1/0

Л

178

191

0/1

Ы

183

191

0/0

М

178

191

0/0

Э

183

190

0/0

Н

179

191

1/0

Ю

183

193

1/1

О

179

193

0/0

Я

183

195

0/0

Knee at < Yellow midstance / Red

20 km Men

Knee at contact

Knee at midstance

< Yellow / Red

20 km Men

Knee at contact

А

177

188

0/0

П

180

193

0/0

Ь

177

188

0/0

Р

181

192

0/0

В

177

186

1/0

С

181

191

0/0

Г

178

188

0/0

Т

181

189

0/0

Д

178

183

2/1

У

182

194

0/0

Е

178

180

1/1

Ф

182

190

0/1

Ё

178

188

1/0

Х

182

188

0/0

Ж

178

177

2/1

Ц

182

192

0/0

З

179

187

0/0

Ч

182

188

0/0

И

179

189

1/0

Ш

182

193

0/0

К

179

186

1/0

Щ

183

194

0/0

Л

179

188

1/0

Ы

183

192

0/0

М

179

185

3/0

Э

183

191

0/0

Н

180

187

1/0

Ю

184

194

0/0

О

180

186

0/0

Я

184

190

0/0

Knee at < Yellow midstance / Red

50 km Men

Knee at contact

Knee at midstance

< Yellow / Red

50 km Men

Knee at contact

А

175

183

3/1

П

181

184

0/0

Ь

177

190

1/0

Р

181

194

0/0

В

177

186

2/1

С

181

195

0/0

Г

179

187

0/0

Т

181

185

2/1

Д

179

181

3/2

У

181

193

1/0

Е

179

194

1/1

Ф

182

188

1/0

Ё

180

192

2/0

Х

183

195

0/0

Ж

180

191

0/0

Ц

183

194

0/0

З

180

191

0/0

Ч

183

198

0/0

И

180

187

2/2

Ш

184

194

0/0

К

180

187

1/0

Щ

184

190

0/0

Л

180

186

4/1

Ы

185

195

1/0

М

180

189

1/0

Э

185

193

0/0

Н

180

187

0/0

Ю

185

197

0/0

О

181

189

1/0

Я

186

197

0/0

Knee at < Yellow midstance / Red

Loss of contact  “Race walking is a progression of steps so taken that the walker makes contact with the ground, so that no visible (to the human eye) loss of contact occurs. ...”  De Angelis & Menchinelli (1992) conducted research on international-level men and women. They found that flight times were detected by experienced judges only when the flight time approached or exceeded 0.04 s. Flight times were recorded in all athletes and at all speeds. Knicker & Loch (1990) also found that race walk judges find it difficult to detect flight phases of less than 40 ms (0.04 s).

 Results from World Cup 2008 Flight times:

0.00 s

0.02 s

0.04 s

Men’s 20 km

3

15

12

Women’s 20 km

5

21

4

Men’s 50 km

4

23

3

 Results from European Cup 2009 Flight times:

0.00 s

0.02 s

0.04 s

Junior Men’s 10 km

3

9

8*

Junior Women’s 10 km

11

7

2

* One athlete recorded a flight time of 0.06 s.

Factors in performance Race Performance Extended knee

Walking speed

Step length

Contact maintained

Cadence

Foot ahead of body

Contact time

Foot behind body Flight time Distance travelled (flight) Distance from heel to toe

Swing time

Summary  Most athletes comply with the straightened knee rule, and have no visible loss of contact. Lifting tends to occur for 0.04 seconds or less even in the very fastest walkers.  Elite race walkers have step lengths approximately 70% of their height. The foot lands about 20% of their height in front of their bodies and toes-off about 27% of their height behind them.  Both step length and cadence decrease with fatigue. One of the main causes of this is a decrease in flight time and an increase in contact time. Getting the pace correct early in the race is crucial to optimising biomechanical (and physiological) efficiency.  Junior athletes display similar attributes to seniors but tend to have less pelvic rotation and more upper body movement.

Thank you for your attention!

References Cairns, M. A., Burdette, R. G., Pisciotta, J. C. & Simon, S. R. (1986) A biomechanical analysis of racewalking gait. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 18(4), pp.446-453. 

 De Angelis, M. & Menchinelli, C. (1992) Times of flight, frequency and length of stride in race walking. In: Rodano, R. ed. Proceedings of the X International Symposium of Biomechanics in Sports, Milan: Milan, EdiErmes, pp.85-88.  Knicker, A. & Loch, M. (1990) Race walking technique and judging – the final report to the International Athletic Foundation research project. New Studies in Athletics, 5(3) pp.25-38.