The effect of uphill stride manipulation on race walking gait

• Main Author: J Padulo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Termedia Publishing House 2015-09-01
• Series: Biology of Sport
• Subjects: field testing; stride analysis; iso-efficiency speed; training on a slope; kinematic analysis
• Online Access: http://www.termedia.pl/The-effect-of-uphill-stride-manipulation-on-race-walking-gait,78,25754,1,1.html
• ISSN: 0860-021X; 2083-1862

Stride length analysis represents an easy method for assessing race walking kinematics. However, the stride parameters emerging from such an analysis have never been used to design a training protocol aimed at increasing stride length. With this aim, we investigated the effects of stride frequency manipulation during three weeks of uphill (2%) training on stride length at iso-efficiency speed. Twelve male race walkers were randomly allocated to one of two training groups: stride frequency manipulation (RWM, n=6) and free stride frequency (RWF, n=6). Results. Kinematic parameters measured before and after the 3-week training in RWM showed increased stride length (4.54%; p<0.0001) and contact time (4.58%; p<0.001); inversely, a decreased stride frequency (4.44%; p<0.0001) and internal work (7.09%; p<0.05) were found. In RWF the effect of the training showed a decrease in stride length (1.18%; p<0.0001) and contact time (<1%; p<0.0001) with respect to baseline conditions and an increased stride frequency and internal work of 1.19% (p<0.0001). These results suggest that using slopes (2%) as RWM could help coaches to provide some training methods that would improve an athlete’s performance, through increasing stride length without altering his or her race walking technique or metabolic demands.