KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF MIDDLE-DISTANCE RUNNERS DURING TREADMILL RUNNING AND DEEP WATER RUNNING

Abstract

The present study compared the kinematics of treadmill running (TR) with deep water running (DWR). Five male middle-distance runners of national level were requested to run in intensities of regenerative effort, long aerobic, 5/10 km, 400/800 m and 100/200 m on treadmill and water. Three complete running steps were recorded. Two-dimensional analysis methods were employed to analyse the lower limb movement and general kinematics. The results revealed diferences (p<0.05) between TR and DWR on angular velocity and range of motion (ROM) of lower limb in most of running intensities, except in shank angular ROM on regenerative and long aerobic intensities, and thigh angular ROM on 100/200m intensities, where statistical differences were not observed. These findings suggest that the kinematics of DWR is different of TR.