Kettler RACE Mode D'emploi page 16

GB Biomechanics
On the treadmill the most different forms of training can be exe-
cuted, from walking to running to sprinting. The execution of
movement of walking, running and sprinting is divided into four
phases:
The motion sequences while running cannot be standardised
and therefore the choice of the economic running style is very
individual and significantly depends on the running speed and
the physical constitution. One distinguishes between different
types of touchdown of the heel.
• Touchdown of the front foot: Initial floor contact starts with
the front foot. The knee is slightly bended when the foot hits
the ground and therefore a major part of the arising forces is
cushioned via the muscular system.
• Touchdown of the rear foot: Initial floor contact starts with the
heel. The knee is almost stretched when the heel hits the
ground and the movement is cushioned by the passive loco-
motor system and the shoes.
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• Touchdown of the midfoot: Initial contact with the ground via
the midfoot Combination from touchdown of front and rear
foot.
It is a fact that an economisation of the running technique pre-
vents early fatigue and injuries and that the biomechanical
requirements during running and the occurring forces depend on
the following points:
• Running speed
• Floor conditions / route profile
• Physical constitution
• Running technique
• Shoes
• Statics of the lower extremities
Here the knee is maximally lif-
ted and the leg is mainly
swung forwards. When tou-
ching the ground with the foot
the lower extremities will be
cushioned within a period of
10 - 20ms by a passive dece-
leration movement.
Touching the ground with the
foot causes forces which are 2
to 3 times higher than the
body weight. Therefore you
should make sure to wear the
suitable shoes in order to ade-
quately absorb the arising for-
ces and guarantee a healthy
pronation of the foot.
In the final phase the foot is
straight and pushed off from
the ground via the first toe