This study aims to clarify the ideal technique for running on a curved path during sprinting events. Participants were twelve male track and field athletes including long jumpers and sprinters. The participants performed a 60-m sprint with maximal effort on straight and curved paths. Participants were divided into “good curve runners” and “poor curve runners” according to the curved path running speed relative to that of the straight path. Kinematic variables and ground reaction forces (GRFs) were registered and compared between the groups and paths. The running speed, step length, and flight distance of the outside leg on the curved path were lower than on the straight path only in poor curve runners. The medial-lateral GRF and impulse showed an increase during curved path running for both groups. However, the maximum posterior GRF and impulse decreased only in poor curve runners. The ideal technique for running on a curved path is to maintain the same kinematics and kinetics in the sagittal plane as on a straight path.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the changes of left and right leg movement on curved path during the latter half of 400m sprint. Subjects were 8 male university sprinters (age 20.0 ± 1.2, height 1.75 ± 0.07m, weight 64.7 ± 6.2kg, personal best for 400m 50.98 ± 2.36sec). The subjects performed 400m sprint with maximal effort on the 1st lane in outdoor track. Trials were recorded and analyzed by two-dimensional motion analysis method focusing on 160-360m section during 400m sprint. This section was divided into five 40m phases (In straight , Beginning of curve, Center of curve, End of curve, and Out straight). The kinematics parameters were averaged for each phase and compared between the phases and between the left and right legs. The running velocity and the step frequency decreased significantly after the Center of curve in both legs. The stance time and the flight time increased significantly after the Center of curve in left leg and the right leg, respectively. Although, the step length of the left leg decreased significantly after the End of curve, the right leg showed no significant difference. Also, the stance distance of the left leg decreased significantly after the End of curve. Form these results, the present study demonstrated that the changes of movement and the factors affecting the decline in running velocity are different between left and right legs on curved path during the latter half of 400m sprint.

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