2D KINEMATIC AND KINETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DRAGON BOAT PADDLING STROKE

Abstract

The aim of this study was to combine 2D force measurements on a dragon boat paddle with synchronised 2D video data, establish the main kinetic and kinematic parameters for key paddle events and measure the paddle displacement between entry and exit points on the surface of the water. A custom built strain gauged paddle and a stationary high speed video camera was used to collect synchronised data at 200 Hz. Results for skilled versus club level paddlers were significant with a large effect size for propulsive impulse, impulse workload, maximum paddle force, average paddle force, force development, stroke length, paddle displacement, and, paddle angles at maximum force, zero force, exit and minimum force. Paddle displacement at the water interface is in the direction of boat movement and this may indicate a breaking force during part of the paddling stroke.