A kinematic comparison of the running A and B drills with sprinting

Abstract

The A and B drills are commonly used by sprinters as part of training. The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanics of the A and B drills to sprinting. Eight university level sprinters were recruited to participate in the study. The participants completed the A and B drills as fast and as technically perfectly as possible, followed by two 60 metre runs at maximum speed. While performing the drills and sprinting, the participants were videotaped from the frontal and sagittal views. These videotapes were then used for a kinematic comparison of the drills and sprinting, based on select variables associated with sprint performance. There were significant differences in vertical displacement, vertical velocity, step frequency, support time, non-support time, shoulder range of motion (ROM), elbow flexion angular velocity (AV), trunk flexion, trunk rotation, pelvic rotation, hip flexion, hip extension AV, knee extension AV, ankle ROM, plantarflexion AV, and dorsiflexion AV. There were no significant differences in shoulder extension AV, elbow ROM, elbow extension AV, hip flexion AV, knee ROM, and knee flexion AV. Differences among the three skills were seen in the timing of peak angular velocity at the shoulder, hip, and knee. Differences among the three skills were also seen in the angle at which peak angular velocity occurred in the shoulder and ankle joint range of motion. It was concluded that the kinematics in the A and B drills were not the same as sprinting. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)