Race walking gait and its influence on race walking economy in world-class race walkers

ABSTRACT

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between biomechanical parameters of the gait cycle and race walking economy in world-class Olympic race walkers.

Methods: Twenty-One world-class race walkers possessing the Olympic qualifying standard participated in this study. Participants completed an incremental race walking test starting at 10 km·h⁻¹, where race walking economy (ml·kg⁻¹·km⁻¹) and spatiotemporal gait variables were analysed at different speeds.

Results: 20-km race walking performance was related to race walking economy, being the fastest race walkers those displaying reduced oxygen cost at a given speed (R = 0.760, p < 0.001). Longer ground contact times, shorter flight times, longer midstance sub-phase and shorter propulsive sub-phase during stance were related to a better race walking economy (moderate effect, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the fastest race walkers were more economi cal than the lesser performers. Similarly, shorter flight times are associated with a more efficient race walking economy. Coaches and race walkers should avoid modifying their race walking style by increasing flight times, as it may not only impair economy, but also lead to disqualification.

KEYWORDS:

• Walking
• sports performance
• ground contact
• footstep analysis
• exercise physiology

Acknowledgments

This study has been supported by a grant from the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (EHUA16/12). Authors also want to thank race walkers and coaches for their participation in this study.

Conflict of interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest. Authors declare that the results of this study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea [EHUA16/12].