Abstract
Triathletes often experience incoordination at the start of a transition run (TR); this is possibly reflected by altered joint kinematics. In this study, the first 20 steps of a run after a warm-up run (WR) and TR (following a 90 min cycling session) of 16 elite, male, long-distance triathletes (31.3 ± 5.4 years old) were compared. Measurements were executed on the competition course of the Ironman Frankfurt in Germany. Pacing and slipstream were provided by a cyclist in front of the runner. Kinematic data of the trunk and leg joints, step length, and step rate were obtained using the MVN Link inertial motion capture system by Xsens. Statistical parametric mapping was used to compare the active leg (AL) and passive leg (PL) phases of the WR and TR. In the TR, more spinal extension (~0.5–1°; p = 0.001) and rotation (~0.2–0.5°; p = 0.001–0.004), increases in hip flexion (~3°; ~65% AL−~55% PL; p = 0.001–0.004), internal hip rotation (~2.5°; AL + ~0–30% PL; p = 0.001–0.024), more knee adduction (~1°; ~80–95% AL; p = 0.001), and complex altered knee flexion patterns (~2–4°; AL + PL; p = 0.001–0.01) occurred. Complex kinematic differences between a WR and a TR were detected. This contributes to a better understanding of the incoordination in transition running.
Highlights
In a triathlon, the smooth transitioning from cycling to running is considered to be crucial for optimal performance in the final running part and the overall result [1,2,3]
The ability to quickly find one’s personal running pattern is of great importance, which contributes to optimal processes in muscular control and energy supply [1,4,5,6]
Since the data were not normally distributed at most time points, median running patterns and interquartile ranges (IQRs) were calculated and the non-parametric t-test for paired samples was applied to test differences between these pattern (SnPM)
Summary
The smooth transitioning from cycling to running is considered to be crucial for optimal performance in the final running part and the overall result [1,2,3]. Athletes have to cope with what they colloquially describe as “brick running” (it feels like “hitting a wall of bricks”) or “running on eggs” at the beginning of the running section. This sense of incoordination, which is not found in isolated running, may result in altered running kinematics triggered by prior cycling [2,7,8]. Triathlon-specific cycling is characterized by extreme static trunk flexion and repeated hip flexion [9] This posture is endured in order to minimize the area of wind attack, since drafting is forbidden in middle- and long-distance triathlons [10]. It is possible that these rapid changes in postural (and neuromuscular) demands cause sensorimotor perturbations [5] and, a delay in finding one’s running pattern
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