Determinants of optimal leg use strategy: horizontal to vertical transition in the parkour wall climb

Abstract

This study examined the mechanics of the horizontal to vertical transition used by parkour athletes in wall climbing. The study serves as an alternative assessment of leg control strategy for a task related to normal running, but where the functional options differ substantially, so can expose the movement control priorities required to successfully complete the task. Ground reaction forces were measured in several expert parkour athletes and centre of mass trajectory was calculated from force plates embedded in the ground and the wall. Empirical measures were compared with movements predicted by a work-based control optimization model. The model captured the fundamental dynamics of the transition, so allowed an exploration of parameter sensitivity for success at the maneuver (run-up speed, foot placement, etc.). The optimal transition of both the model and the parkour athletes used a common intermediate run-up speed and appears determined largely by a trade-off of positive and negative leg work that accomplishes the task with minimum overall work.