KINEMATIC ANALYSIS AND MUSCULAR ACTIVITY OF SKATEBOARD PROPULSION IN EXPERIENCED PARTICIPANTS

Abstract

Skateboarding began in the 1950s and coincided with the initial popularization of surfing in southern California. Today, there are approximately 12 million people who use a skateboard in the United States with world-wide participation increasing (National Sporting Goods Assoc., 2005). No published scholarly investigation has attempted to study the biomechanics of skateboard propulsion. Considering the need for increased physical activity in the general population, it may be beneficial to investigate an activity outside of traditional exercise modalities such as running, cycling, and swimming (Transportation Research Board, 2003). The purpose of this study is to investigate and describe human motion during the pushing and riding of a skateboard. Specifically, it seeks to determine which joints and muscles are involved in this activity, the angular velocities of these joints, and how stride frequency varies with speed and grade.