The present study aimed to clarify the changes in arm and leg swing between the early and late phases of a 400 m sprint. Nine male and eight female sprinters performed a 400 m sprint at maximum effort. Inertial measurement units were attached to the distal thighs and forearms to quantify arm and leg swing. Segmental angular data were analysed and compared between the early and late phases of the sprint. Leg swing amplitude was significantly reduced in the late phase compared to the early phase (average %delta = -48.8), whereas arm swing amplitude increased (average %delta = +160.8), and higher arm swing velocity in the late phase was associated with greater stride frequency (maximum; r = 0.573, 0.504; minimum: r = -0.664, -0.593). These findings suggest that arm swing may play an important role in maintaining running speed during the late phase of a 400 m sprint.
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