Anthropometric and physical abilities profiles: US National Skeleton Team.

The aim of this study was to characterize sprint ability, anthropometry, and lower extremity power in the US National Team Skeleton athletes. Fourteen athletes (male n = 7; mean +/- SD: height 1.794 +/- 0.063 m, body mass 81.2 +/- 3.7 kg, age 26.9 +/- 4.1 years; female n = 7; 1.642 +/- 0.055 m, 60.1 +/- 5.9 kg, 27.3 +/- 6.9 years) volunteered to participate. Sprinting ability was measured over multiple intervals using custom infrared timing gates in both an upright and a crouched sprint. The crouched sprint was performed while pushing a wheeled-simulated skeleton sled on rails on an outdoor skeleton and bobsleigh start track. Crouched skeleton sprint starts were able to achieve about 70% to 85% of the upright sprint times. The mean somatotype ratings for females were: 3.5-3.5-2.1, and males: 3.6-4.9-1.9. Lower extremity strength and power were measured via vertical jumps on a portable force platform using squat and countermovement jumps, and jumps with added mass. Jump height, power, rate offorce development and peak force were determined from force-time data. Lower extremity strength and power were strongly correlated with both upright and crouched sprint times. The results indicated that these athletes are strong sprinters with varying body structures, mostly mesomorphic, and that stronger and more powerful athletes tend to be better starters.

A kinematic analysis of high-speed treadmill sprinting over a range of velocities.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to measure changes in stride characteristics and lower-extremity kinematics of the hip and knee as a function of increasing treadmill velocity, at velocities ranging from submaximal to near maximal. METHODS: Six power/speed athletes experienced at sprinting on a treadmill performed trials at 70%, 80%, 90%, and 95% of their previous individual maximum velocity, with video data collected in the sagittal view at 60 Hz. RESULTS: Significant differences were seen in stride frequency (70%, 80%, P < 0.01; 90%, P < 0.05), stance time (70%, 80%, P < 0.01; 90%, P < 0.05) flight time (70%, P < 0.01; 80%, P < 0.05), hip flexion angle (70%, P < 0.01), hip flexion angular velocity (70%, P < 0.01), hip extension angular velocity (70%, 80%, P < 0.01), knee flexion angular velocity (70%, 80%, P < 0.01), and knee extension angular velocity (70%, P < 0.01), as compared with the near maximum (95%) velocity. Coefficient of variation (CV) values showed that the positional variables at the hip and knee were more variable at faster test conditions, indicating that kinematic changes occur as a function of increased treadmill velocity. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that at slower velocities, there were differences in the stride characteristics and lower-extremity kinematics while sprinting on a treadmill. As the velocity approached near maximum mechanical breakdown was seen, suggesting that velocities greater than 90% should be used selectively during treadmill training.