Hip and Shoulder Kinematics During Initial Sled Acceleration in Luging – A Case Study

• Authors: Veronika Fedotova , Viktor Pilipiv
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Purpose. The start is treated as one of the most important technical elements in all sliding sports, as it is the only phase when athletes can actively contribute to increasing sled velocity. Nevertheless, start kinematics in luging have seldom been addressed in literature. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse hip and shoulder movement of lugers during one of the essential start phases - the pull and push-off from the start handles - to further understanding of the velocity development process at its initial stage. Methods. Three experienced female lugers volunteered to take part in the case study. A number of start attempts were filmed and analysed using a motion tracking method. Results. The study found that an athlete and the sled do not move as a whole rigid system, and a hip movement relative to the sled was found to exist. The study participants used two techniques for achieving high sled velocity: by initially pulling on the start handles with a powerful back extension, and sliding the hips forward on the sled in an attempt to increase forward momentum; a combination of both techniques might provide increased performance. Athletes featured two weaknesses in terms of where horizontal sled velocity was lost - at the end of the initial pull on the handles and during the final moment of the push-off from the handles. The latter was previously believed to be another option at gaining increased sled horizontal velocity. Conclusions. As found in the results, athletes have at least two possibilities of increasing horizontal sled velocity. Hip movement relative to the sled appeared to be important for gains in velocity. Additional studies that analyse larger pulls are necessary for understanding the role of hip and sled relative movement in start technique and its impact on increasing initial velocity.

Keywords

EN

biomechanics of winter sports; in-run performance; motion analysis; start technique

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Human Movement
• Year: 2012
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 344-349

Dates

published

1 - 11 - 2012

online

26 - 01 - 2013

Contributors

author

Veronika Fedotova

• Institute of Biomaterials and Biomechanics, Riga Technical University, Miera 82/1-13, Riga, LV-1013, Latvia

author

Viktor Pilipiv

• Sports Medicine Department, Latvian Olympic Team, Riga, Latvia

References

• 1. Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course. International Luge Regulations - Artificial track. Approved at the 58th FIL Congress, Sochi, Russian Federation, June 18th, 2010.
• 2. Rogowsky P., Wala M., The sport of luge. University Press, New York 1978.
• 3. Brüggemann G.P., Morlock M., Zatsiorsky V.M., Analysis of the bobsled and men’s luge events at the XVII Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer. J Appl Biomech, 1997, 13 (1), 98-108.
• 4. Bullock N., Martin D.T., Ross A., Rosemond A., Holland T., Marino F.E., Characteristics of the start in woman’s World Cup skeleton. Sports Biomech, 2008, 7 (3), 351-360, doi: 10.1080/02640410802613425.[Crossref][WoS]
• 5. Morlock M., Zatsiorsky V.M., Factors influencing performance in bobsledding I: influences of the bobsled crew and the environment. Int J Sports Biomech, 1989, 5, 208-221.
• 6. Zanoletti C., La Torre A., Merati G., Rampinini E., Impellizzeri F.M., Relationship between push phase and final race time in skeleton performance. J Strength Cond Res, 2006, 20 (3), 579-583.[PubMed]
• 7. Kearney J.T., Rundell K.W., Wilber R.L., Measurement of work and power in sport. In: Garret J.R., Kirkendall D.T. (eds.), Exercise and sport science. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia 2000, 31-52.
• 8. Kempe M., Thorhauer H.A., Technique and individualisation - studies in the start of the sport of luge [in German]. Sportwissenschaft, 1995, 25, 63-74.
• 9. Platzer H., Raschner C., Patterson C., Performance-determining physiological factors in the luge start. J Sport Sci, 2009, 27 (3), 221-226, doi: 10.1080/02640410802400799.[Crossref]

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/v10038-012-0040-3