Understanding the mechanics of sprinting across the acceleration, constant velocity and deceleration phases is an important step towards developing strategies for enhancing performance. In sprinting research, a greater emphasis is usually put on acceleration and maximum velocity. The deceleration phase is sometimes overlooked, despite its crucial role in race outcomes.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disorder in children and, for the most part, young people with CPHSN (Cerebral Palsy with High Support Needs) typically experience worsening motor function over time. Limited physical activity is often associated with this downward trajectory, reinforcing the narrative that the decline in function is inevitable. However, our recently published study, which was led by Dr Iain Dutia and linked here, challenges this narrative, demonstrating that performance-focused swimming training can not only prevent decline in motor function but may perhaps actively improve it.
This article examines a paper published in the Journal of Applied Biomechanics. You can find the paper here. Before delving into the framework, it’s helpful to first outline the key concepts of running economy, the spring-mass model, and advanced footwear technologies.