Effects of a Body-Weight Supporting Kite on Sprint Running Kinematics in Well-Trained Sprinters.

Data of elite sprinters indicate that faster athletes realize shorter ground contact times compared with slower individuals. Furthermore, the importance of the so-called "front side mechanics" for elite sprint performance is frequently emphasized by researchers and coaches. Recently, it was demonstrated that using a body-weight supporting kite during full-effort sprints in highly trained sprinters leads to a reduction in ground contact time. The aim of this study was to investigate possible negative effects of this body-weight supporting device on sprint running kinematics, which was not clarified in previous studies. Eleven well-trained Austrian sprinters performed flying 20-m sprints under 2 conditions: (a) free sprint (FS); and (b) body-weight supported sprint (BWS). Sprint cycle characteristics were recorded during the high-speed phase by a 16 camera 3D-system (Vicon), an optical acquisition system (Optojump-next), and a high-speed camera. Paired sample t-tests and Cohen's d effect size were used to determine differences between sprinting conditions. Compared with FS, BWS caused a decrease in ground contact time by 5.6% and an increase in air time by 5.5% (both p < 0.001), whereas stride length and rate remained unchanged. Furthermore, a reduced hip joint extension at and after take-off, an increased maximal hip joint flexion (i.e., high knee position), and a smaller horizontal distance of the touchdown to the center of gravity could be observed (all p < 0.01). These results indicate no negative effects on front side mechanics during BWS and that sprinting with a body-weight supporting kite seems to be a highly specific method to reduce ground contact time in well-trained sprinters.

Application of a body-weight-supporting kite for sprint running.

Improvements in sprint performance at the top level require adaptations concerning force application because ground contact time diminishes with increasing velocity. Applied training methods and devices must provoke appropriate stimuli. A knowledge about positive and negative effects of these stimuli is vital for coaches. The purpose of this study was to determine the angle of attack and lifting and retarding forces of a novel sprint training device that supports the athlete's body weight (BW), thereby decreasing ground contact time during sprints. Three different kite sizes (1.10, 1.75, 2.25 m) were investigated. A bicycle was used to accelerate the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) parawings (NPW-120, NPW-150, and NPW-170) on an indoor track to acquire data at velocities between 6.5 and 10.5 m · s. During a 5-m interval of constant speed, the resultant force of the kite was recorded on a portable computer by a load cell. The angle of attack was determined by a high-speed camera, and the mean velocity in the 5-m sector was measured by a laser gauge. Lifting and retarding forces were derived from the resultant force and angle of attack. Quadratic regression equations for lifting and retarding forces, depending on the velocity, were calculated for all 3 NPWs. A clear difference (p < 0.001) depending on the kite size was revealed for lifting and retarding forces. These forces also indicated high correlation coefficients related to velocity (r > 0.98; p < 0.001), whereas the angle of attack remained almost constant across the entire velocity range in all NPWs, yielding a lift-to-drag ratio of 2.35. Because of the kite's small retarding forces, we recommend the application of the NPW during the high-speed phase of sprinting with lifting force probably counteracting adverse effects. By adding a towing system, the retarding force can be fine tuned, erased, or turned into overspeed assistance, thereby emphasizing BW support.

Sprint running with a body-weight supporting kite reduces ground contact time in well-trained sprinters.

It is well founded that ground contact time is the crucial part of sprinting because the available time window to apply force to the ground diminishes with growing running velocity. In view of this knowledge, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of body-weight support during full-effort sprints on ground contact time and selected stride parameters in 19 Austrian male elite sprinters. A kite with a lifting effect combined with a towing system to erase drag was used. The subjects performed flying 20-m sprints under 3 conditions: (a) free sprint; (b) body-weight supported sprint-normal speed (BWS-NS); and (c) body-weight supported sprint-overspeed (BWS-OS). Sprint cycle characteristics were recorded during the high-speed phase by an optical acquisition system. Additionally, running velocity was derived from the 20-m sprint time. Compared with the fastest free sprint, running velocity, step length, and step frequency remained unchanged during BWS-NS, whereas ground contact time decreased (-5.80%), and air time increased (+5.79%) (both p < 0.001). Throughout, BWS-OS ground contact time (-7.66%) was reduced, whereas running velocity (+2.72%), air time (+4.92%), step length (+1.98%) (all p < 0.001), and step frequency (+1.05%; p < 0.01) increased. Compared with BWS-NS, BWS-OS caused an increase in running velocity (+3.33%), step length (+1.92%) (both p < 0.001), and step frequency (+1.37%; p < 0.01), whereas ground contact time was diminished (-1.97%; p < 0.001). In summary, sprinting with a body-weight supporting kite appeared to be a highly specific method to simulate an advanced performance level, indicated by higher running velocities requiring reduced ground contact times. The additional application of an overspeed condition led to a further reduction of ground contact time. Therefore, we recommend body-weight supported sprinting as an additional tool in sprint training.