FATIGUE INFLUENCED CHANGES

TO SPRINTING TECHNIQUE
By V. Tupa, F. Gusenov and I. Mironenko

A study into the changes in sprinting technique and external work that occur in
the uncompensated fatigue phase during the final stages of sprint events. The
article is a slightly abbreviated translation Teoriya I Practika Fizicheskoy Kultury,
Russia, No. 2, February 1990. Re-printed with permission from Modern Athlete
and Coach.

Studying fatigue induced running techniques makes it possible to reduce speed

losses that occur in the final stages of sprint races. The changes to technique
during this phase of fatigue must be understood to find out whether they should
be corrected, or represent effective compensations that reduce the negative
effect.

Data covering fatigue induced changes to sprinting technique is scarce, however

research into fatigue in the 400m event reveals the following effects:

 Reduction of the movement amplitude and speed of the legs.

 Reduction of the driving force.

 Increased braking force of the lead leg.

 Increased vertical displacement of the hip joint, which suggests increased

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scent reofgr avity.

Further research information has confirmed decreases in the driving force and an
increased takeoff angle of the centre of gravity during the fatigue stage in 400m
races. In the 200m fatigue is responsible for a braking force during the foot plant
and a significantly increased knee joint angle with the leg landing in a straighter
position.

Nevertheless, it is premature to come to a definite conclusion based on the

limited number of studies and statistical material.

Our aim in the following study was therefore to discover changes in sprinting
technique and external mechanical work that take place during the fatigue phase.
 METHOD

We used a tension dynamographic platform placed five meters before the

finishing line to compute mechanical work from the reactions of the support.
Running speed was recorded from photodiode leads, stride length from
measurements on the track and stride duration was measured from a pressure
mat. The subjects were made up from twenty 100m, twenty 200m and twenty five
400m sprinters. The 65 sprinters ranged in their performance level from Class II
qualifications to world-class exponents.

Our first task was to record biomechanical indices from a maximal effort 30m
sprint. This was followed by a sprint over the competition distance of the subject
at maximal speed. The biomechanical indices were recorded over the last five
meters of the distance. This allowed us to develop a model of the finish, the
uncompensated fatigue phase and the reaching of top speed after the starting
acceleration.

To discover the angular indices of body movements, we filmed four world-class

sprinters in the 30m sprint and over the last five meters in a 200m sprint to
compar et he“ start
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nishing biomechanical indices.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The reduction of speed towards the finish in the 100 and 200m distances
occurred from a slower stride frequency. In the 400m, where fatigue is most
acute, both the stride frequency and the stride length were responsible for
reduced speed (Table 1). Stride frequency was reduced more than the stride
length shortened. A longer support phase, during which braking increased more
than in the driving phase, reduced the stride frequency.

In the 200m sprint the support time increased from 114 ± 10ms to 135 ± 18ms. At
the same time the braking time increased from 40 ± 8ms to 56 ± 11 ms, or 40%.
Similar changes took place in the external work where the negative aspects
increased more than the decreases in positive aspects (Table 2). As can be
seen, large reductions to the longitudinal speed of the centre of gravity occurred
in the braking phase in all three distances. The fatigue induced changes in the
longitudinal speed during the driving phase in the 200m and 400m runs were
also noticeable (Table 3).

In other words, a sprinter brakes with more force and drives with less force in the
uncompensated fatigue phase. Also, additional mechanical work is used on the
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y.Ananal ysisofthe
cinematogram reveals that these changes do not result from the movements of
the body and limbs. The direct reason for the increased negative work is the
extended foot plant (Fig. 1). For example, the longitudinal displacement of the
centre of gravity in the support phase at the start of a 200m run was 34.4 ±
6.2cm. At the finish an excessive foot plant changed it to 40.4 ± 5.9cm.

At the start of the run, the backward horizontal displacement of the foot of the
free leg relative to the hip joint (from the extreme forward position of the lower leg
to the point of landing) was 27.1 ± 1.6cm. At the finish this was reduced to 17.5 ±
2.7cm. As the result, the far forward extended shin is responsible for an
unfavorable change in the braking phase.

The cinematographic drawing (Fig. 1) of fatigued leg movements shows a

smaller separation of the upper legs at the takeoff point and a lower lead leg lift
which delays the forward swing of the lower leg. The angular displacement and
velocity of the upper leg are considerably reduced, the latter falling from 17.3 ±
2.2 to 6.9 ± 0.7 rad/s. This is a disproportionate decrease in comparison to the
reduction of running velocity.

The above outlined information almost appears to suggest that the technique
changes in the leg movements are specific fatigue symptoms. However, the link
between the kinematics of the leg movements and running speed indicates that
none of the technique changes are really specific to the fatigue phase. Running
speed near the end of a race does not decrease because the athlete plants the
lower leg further out. What actually takes place is that the slower running speed
reduces the swing and velocity of the lead leg, which in turn is responsible for the
extended leg plant.

Kinematic analysis shows that there are no technique differences in fatigued and
unfatigued running at the same speed. When the running speed slows for some
reason, be it voluntary or caused by fatigue, the leg swing movements are
decreased and the breaking effect of the foot plant is increased. The only fatigue
induced change in the leg movement structure appears to be an extended leg
plant. For example, in the 200m run the knee joint angle changed from
142.7 ± 2.6 degrees to 155 ± 3.6 degrees near the finish.

Other researchers have observed similar changes to running techniques in

middle distance events, where the pattern in unfatigued running at slower speeds
was different. Thus, a fatigued sprinter plants his lead leg more extended,
although it is not clear whether the extended leg plant is unavoidable. It still could
be a reaction to avoid further speed losses. This leaves us with two hypothetical
possibilities.

Hypothesis I:

A sprinter is not able to lift his upper leg sufficiently high and carry it fast forward.

Howev er
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ime
increases near the end of a race. As the result of this the knee joint angle
increases at the foot plant (Fig. 1). According to this hypothesis the extended
knee joint is a fatigue induced distortion of the technique.

Hypothesis II:

A more rigid foot plant does not have to stress pulling the foot towards the
vertical projection of the centre of gravity. This apparently occurs subconsciously
to optimize the driving action under adverse conditions and allows exploiting pre-
stretched leg muscles, in particular the plantar flexors.

Further, a survey of sprinters discovered that the athletes were unable to explain
the changes that occurred in their leg movements. Most answers claimed general
or local muscular fatigue. On the other hand, as the ankle joint is the prime
mover in the driving phase, a rigid foot plant may help to reduce the loss of
mechanical energy under fatigued conditions. This type of foot plant allows
exploiting better muscular pretension in the support phase.

CONCLUSION

The following changes take place in the uncompensated fatigue phase during the
final stages of a sprint race:

 Positive external work begins to decrease, while negative work increases.

 The angular displacement and speed of the upper leg diminishes, while
the braking effect of the foot plant increases. The last is the result of a
longer braking duration and loss of the longitudinal speed of the centre of
gravity.

 The knee joint angle at the moment of the foot plant increases. As this
cannot be explained by the slower running speed, it appears to be a
specific uncompensated fatigue phase factor.