Monitoring the biomechanics of a wheelchair sprinter racing the 100 m final at the 2016 Paralympic Games

The aim was to run a case study of the biomechanics of a wheelchair sprinter racing the 100 m final at the 2016 Paralympic Games. Stroke kinematics was measured by video analysis in each 20 m split. Race kinetics was estimated by employing an analytical model that encompasses the computation of the rolling friction, drag, energy output and energy input. A maximal average speed of 6.97 m s-1 was reached in the last split. It was estimated that the contributions of the rolling friction and drag force would account for 54% and 46% of the total resistance at maximal speed, respectively. Energy input and output increased over the event. However, we failed to note a steady state or any impairment of the energy input and output in the last few metres of the race. Data suggest that the 100 m is too short an event for the sprinter to be able to achieve his maximal power in such a distance.
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Bibliographic Details
Subjects:
Notations:sports for the handicapped technical and natural sciences
Published in:European Journal of Physics
Language:English
Published: 2017
Online Access:https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6404/aa6905
Volume:38
Issue:4
Document types:article
Level:advanced