GRAVITY’S ROLE IN ACCELERATED RUNNING - A COMPARISON OF AN EXPERIENCED POSE® AND HEEL-TOE RUNNER

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine gravity’s role in accelerated running using an experienced male Pose® and heel-toe runner as a comparison. A two-step accelerated run found that maximum horizontal acceleration of the centre of mass (COM) occurred before maximum horizontal ground reaction force (GRF). Maximum horizontal and angular acceleration of the arms and trunk occurred at or before maximum horizontal acceleration of the COM. At maximum horizontal GRF both participants’ stance feet were vertically accelerated. It is suggested that acceleration of the COM occurs via a gravitational torque with GRF being the consequence of, not the cause of these movements. Therefore, practitioners might find this novel perspective helpful when applied to accelerated running.