A PRELIMINARY KINEMATIC GAIT ANALYSIS OF A STRONGMAN EVENT: THE FARMERS WALK

Abstract

This study sought to obtain some preliminary normative sagittal plane kinematic data on a strongman event called the farmers walk and gain some insight into its kinematic determinants of performance. Five experienced resistance trained males performed three 20 m farmers walks with 90.5 kg in each hand at maximal speed. Farmers walk velocity increased from the initial acceleration phase to the middle and latter stages, with this associated with significant increases in step length, step rate and reductions in contact time. Analysis of the three fastest and three slowest trials also indicated the fastest trials had significantly greater step length, step rate and reduced contact time. Based on the impulse-momentum relationship, the production of high anterior-posterior impulses over short contact times may be crucial for farmers walk performance.