Differences in run-up, take-off, and flight characteristics: successful vs. unsuccessful high jump attempts at the IAAF world championships

Studies previously conducted on high jump have yielded important information regarding successful performance. However, analyses in competitive scenarios have often disregarded athletes' unsuccessful attempts. This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical differences between successful and unsuccessful jumps during competition. High-speed video footage (200 Hz) was obtained from 11 athletes during the 2018 Men's World Athletics Indoor Championship Final. From each athlete, one successful (SU) and one unsuccessful (UN) jump at the same bar height were included in the analysis, leaving seven athletes in total. Following whole-body 3D manual digitization, several temporal and kinematic variables were calculated for the run-up, take-off, and flight phases of each jump. During SU jumps, athletes raised the center of mass to a greater extent (p < 0.01) from take-off. Touchdown in SU jumps was characterized by a faster anteroposterior velocity (p < 0.05), lower backward lean (p < 0.05), and changes in joint angles for the stance and trail limbs (p < 0.05). Athletes also shortened the final contact time during SU jumps (p < 0.01) after producing a longer flight time in the final step of the run-up (p < 0.05). Elite-level high jumpers undertake a series of adjustments to successfully clear the bar after UN jumps. These adjustments reinforce the importance of the run-up in setting the foundations for take-off and bar clearance. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate the need for coaches to be mindful of the adjustments required in stance and trail limbs when looking to optimize feedback to athletes during training and competition.

The Association Between Hip-Shoulder Separation Angles and Technique Characteristics in World-Class High Jumpers

Hip-shoulder separation (H-S_sep) has been widely researched in many sporting activities (e.g., golf) to provide information on the contribution of torso rotation to performance and injury. Although it is necessary for high jumpers to generate significant long-axis rotation to successfully clear the bar, limited information exists on H-S_sep for high jump athletes. As such, this study aimed to (a) characterize the H-S_sep of world-class high jump athletes during competition, (b) determine if differences exist between male and female athletes and (c) to examine the relationship between H-S_sep and the biomechanical parameters used to describe high jump technique. Twenty-nine world-class high jumpers (17 males, 12 females) were video recorded (frame rate: 120–200 Hz) during the 2017 and 2018 World Athletics Championship finals. H-S_sep was quantified at touchdown (TD) and take-off (TO) following manual digitizing (SIMI motion) and a number of other common biomechanical parameters were computed. The observed levels of H-S_sep at TD (−46±12°) and TO (16 ±11°) were in line with those reported previously for other sports. The magnitude of H-S_sep varied between individuals and showed significant associations with other approach and take-off characteristics. Significant differences in H-S_sep were not evident between male and female athletes despite significant differences in other performance- and technique-related parameters. These findings highlight the divergent take-off characteristics of world-class performers and their reliance on hip-shoulder interactions when generating long axis rotation. Coaches should be mindful of the mechanical and physical consequences of H-S_sep when developing technical models, conditioning interventions and coaching strategies.

Comparison of crossover and jab step start techniques for base stealing in baseball

Base stealing is an important tactic for increasing the chance of scoring in baseball. This study aimed to compare the crossover step (CS) and jab step (JS) starts for base stealing start performance and to clarify the differences between CS and JS starts in terms of three-dimensional lower extremity joint kinetics. Twelve male baseball players performed CS and JS starts, during which their motion and the force they applied to the ground were simultaneously recorded using a motion-capture system and two force platforms. The results showed that the normalised average forward external power, the average forward-backward force exerted by the left leg, and the forward velocities of the whole body centre of gravity generated by both legs and the left leg were significantly higher for the JS start than for the CS start. Moreover, the positive work done by hip extension during the left leg push-off was two-times greater for the JS start than the CS start. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that the jab step start may be the better technique for a base stealing start and that greater positive work produced by left hip extension is probably responsible for producing its larger forward ground reaction force.

Buoyancy is the primary source of generating bodyroll in front-crawl swimming

The present study was conducted to determine the contribution of the turning effect of buoyant force for generating bodyroll and its relationship with the subjects' variability in swimming speed at distance pace and sub-maximal sprinting pace. The performances of front crawl swimming performed by 11 skilled swimmers were recorded with two panning periscopes for three-dimensional analysis. The bodyroll (BR) exhibited by each of the 11 male competitive swimmers was determined for every given instant as the time-integral of the conceptual angular velocity of the entire body about the long-axis, which was computed from the angular momentum and the moment of inertia of entire body. The part of BR generated by the buoyancy torque (BR(BT)) was determined from the moment of inertia of the entire body and the double time-integral of the buoyancy torque. The mean value for the peak-to-peak amplitude of the buoyancy torque was 15 Nm at distance pace and 19 Nm at sub-maximum sprinting speed. The contribution of buoyancy to BR was significantly greater ( P < 0.01) than that of the hydrodynamic forces. The individual swimming speed at sub-maximal sprinting pace was positively correlated ( P < 0.04) with the contribution of buoyancy to BR. These results showed that the skilled swimmers used buoyant force as the primary source of generating BR, and that faster swimmers used buoyant force more effectively to generate BR than slower swimmers. Based on the results and subsequent theoretical analysis, possible patterns of arm-BR coordination that may increase the effectiveness of using buoyant force for BR are discussed.

Stroke frequency in front crawl: its mechanical link to the fluid forces required in non-propulsive directions

Two hypotheses were tested: (a) stroke frequency is predictable from the amplitudes of bodyroll and the turning effect around the body's long-axis generated by the non-propulsive fluid forces (that is, the torque driving bodyroll), and (b) swimmers exhibit at least one alteration in the factors influencing the bodyroll cycle as they increase the stroke frequency for faster swimming, so that they can reduce the fluid forces "wasted" in non-propulsive directions. The mechanical formula that links stroke frequency and the kinetics of bodyroll was derived on the basis of Euler's equation of motion. Experimental data were collected from competitive swimmers to validate the derived mechanical relations and to examine the strategy that skilled swimmers would use to change the stroke frequency as they swam faster. A strong correlation (slow: r = 0.70 and fast: r = 0.85) and a non-significant difference between the observed stroke frequency and the formula-based estimates supported the first hypothesis. As the subjects increased stroke frequency (38%) for faster swimming, bodyroll decreased (19%) and the trunk twist increased (40%). The combined alterations resulted in a small reduction in the shoulder roll (12%), enabling the swimmers to gain the benefits associated with a large rolling action of the upper trunk, while limiting the amount of increase in the turning effect of fluid forces in non-propulsive directions (40%). The second hypothesis was, therefore, supported. The derived mechanical formula provides a theoretical basis to explore mechanisms underlying the interrelations among stroke frequency, stroke length and swimming speed, and sheds light on a possible reason that swimmers generally adopt six-beat kicks.