A mathematical modelling study of an athlete's sprint time when towing a weighted sled

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12283-013-0114-2.This study used a mathematical model to examine the effects of the sled, the running surface, and the athlete on sprint time when towing a weighted sled. Simulations showed that ratio scaling is an appropriate method of normalising the weight of the sled for athletes of different body size. The relationship between sprint time and the weight of the sled was almost linear, as long as the sled was not excessively heavy. The athlete’s sprint time and rate of increase in sprint time were greater on running surfaces with a greater coefficient of friction, and on any given running surface an athlete with a greater power-to-weight ratio had a lower rate of increase in sprint time. The angle of the tow cord did not have a substantial effect on an athlete’s sprint time. This greater understanding should help coaches set the training intensity experienced by an athlete when performing a sled-towing exercise

A biomechanical comparison of the foot strike between running in Vibram Fivefingers® shoes and barefoot / Leah Hutching

Leah Hutching Masters thesis. The primary purpose of this study was to compare the acute mechanical effects at foot strike of running in the Vibram Fivefingers® and barefoot. The secondary purpose of this study was to assess the mechanical responses as velocity increases when wearing the Vibram Fivefingers® during running

Dominant limb asymmetry associated with prospective injury occurrence

The purpose of the study was to identify associations between dominant lower limb asymmetry in unanticipated agility performance and prospective injury occurrence. Female netball players (N=24) performed unanticipated 180° turn agility sprints on both the dominant and non-dominant legs interspersed with an additional straight running (no turn) task (5 trials per task), which were cued randomly using a visual monitor in the gait laboratory. Netball players were contacted regularly throughout the following six-month period for verification of any lower extremity injury experienced during their netball seaso