Effects of Age and Sex on the Kinematics of the Sprinting Technique in the Maximum Velocity Phase

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the step parameters, the Body Center of Mass (BCM) kinematics, as well as the angular and linear kinematics of the lower extremities’ joints of prepubescent and adult sprinters of both sexes. A total of forty-two athletes were examined, including adult men (AM) and women (AF) as well as preadolescent boys (PPB) and girls (PPG). A 2D-DLT analysis was conducted on video recordings (sampling frequency: 100 fps) of the participants’ maximum effort trial while in their maximum sprinting velocity phase. A 2 (age) × 2 (sex) ANOVA revealed significant (p < 0.05) effects of the factors age and sex, and an interaction of age × sex in the sprint running velocity. It was also found that the spatiotemporal structure of the step parameters was significantly (p < 0.05) different between AM and AF but not between PPB and PPG. Also, a significant (p < 0.05) main effect of age was evident mainly for the ankle joint of both legs, as well as for the angular kinematics of the swing leg’s knee joint. In conclusion, apart from the possible disparities in training experience, differences due to age and sex exist in the step parameters and the kinematics of the sprinting technique due to differences in the technical elements related to coordination, strength application capability, and stiffness.