CHANGE OF SPRINTING BIOMECHANICS IN THE ACCELERATION PHASE WHILE RESTRICTING THE VISUAL AND HEARING SENSE

Abstract

Sprinting and short acceleration phases are common movements in rugby and football. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the running movement changed while senses were restricted. Nine rugby and football player performed in three conditions (no restriction, visual restriction and audivisual restriction) a 10m sprint. Kinematic and kinetic data were captured for step 4-6. The athletes ran significant faster than in the other two conditions although the contact time and stride cycle length did not significantly differ. A change could be seen in the extension moment of the hip and the ROM in the knee, both between no- and audivisual restriction. It was concluded that sensual restrictions effects the performance in a slowdown of the movement, but that during the 4-6 step only small changes seem to appear due to the visual restriction.