Kinematic effects of skip drills on sprint ability in junior high school students

• Published in: Journal of Physical Education and Sport Vol. 24; no. 11; pp. 1912 - 1918
• Main Authors: Nakano, Hiroyuki, Kurosu, Masahiro, Suzuki, Hideki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pitesti Universitatea din Pitesti 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Calibration; Camcorders; Cameras; Exercise; Junior High School Students; Kinematics; Knee; Mechanics; Mechanics (Physics); Meta Analysis; Middle schools; Motion; Muscular Strength; Performance evaluation; Physical Education; Physical Fitness; Secondary school students; Secondary schools; Teaching Methods; Time; Track & field; Training Methods; Video Technology
• ISSN: 2247-8051; 2247-806X
• DOI: 10.7752/jpes.2024.11287

Problem Statement: Skip drills are commonly used as training methods to enhance running performance, yet their specific effects and underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the influence of skip drills on sprint ability and accompanying kinematic changes in lower limb movements among junior high school students. Approach: Seventy-three male junior high school students (mean height: 165.2 + 5.7 cm, mean weight: 54.7 + 9.7 kg, age range: 14-15 years) participated in a 3-week skip drill program. Skipping and sprinting movements were recorded before and after the skip drill. Subjects who showed forward leg swing improvement during skipping were assigned to the frontside mechanics (FM) group (n = 12), while those with the opposite trend were assigned to the backside mechanics (BM) group (n = 5). Kinematic parameters, including speed, stride length, ground contact time, and knee joint angles were analyzed. Results: The FM group shorten in ground contact time of skipping and increased the stride frequency of sprinting and skipping and sprinting speed after the skip drill. In contrast, the BM group showed no significant changes in kinematic parameters. The FM group also demonstrated a smaller knee joint angle in the latter half of the stance phase during skipping and sprinting, suggesting increased leg stiffness and improved propulsive force. Conclusion: The results suggest that skip drills can enhance sprint ability by improving leg movement. This study provides a foundation for developing drills and training programs aimed at enhancing running ability.