Ground Reaction Force and Cadence during Stationary Running Sprint in Water and on Land

Abstract

This study was aimed at analyzing the cadence (Cadmax) and the peak vertical ground reaction force (Fymax) during stationary running sprint on dry land and at hip and chest level of water immersion. We hypothesized that both Fymax and Cadmax depend on the level of immersion and that differences in Cadmax between immersions do not affect Fymax during stationary sprint. 32 subjects performed the exercise at maximum cadence at each immersion level and data were collected with force plates. The results show that Cadmax and Fymax decrease 17 and 58% from dry land to chest immersion respectively, with no effect of cadence on Fymax. While previous studies have shown similar neuromuscular responses between aquatic and on land stationary sprint, our results emphasize the differences in Fymax between environments and levels of immersion. Additionally, the characteristics of this exercise permit maximum movement speed in water to be close to the maximum speed on dry land. The valuable combination of reduced risk of orthopedic trauma with similar neuromuscular responses is provided by the stationary sprint exercise in water. The results of this study support the rationale behind the prescription of stationary sprinting in sports training sessions as well as rehabilitation programs.

The Role of Water-Based Exercise on Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Overweight Children: A Pilot Study

“…The magnitude of these reductions is further reinforced by the large effect sizes observed between the environments in all variables and cadences (Fz peak = 4.08 to 5.21, impulse = 6.41 to 7.95, LR = 1.55 to 2.07). These findings corroborate those of other studies that also observed substantial reductions in the Fz peak when both environments were compared [11,13,17,19,24,25]. Alberton et al [13] found reductions in the order of 60 to 67% in Fz peak at 80 b min −1 , 100 b min −1 , and maximal effort in women with obesity, but no data is available on impulse or LR.…”

“…Alberton et al [13] found reductions in the order of 60 to 67% in Fz peak at 80 b min −1 , 100 b min −1 , and maximal effort in women with obesity, but no data is available on impulse or LR. In eutrophic young adults, the magnitude of reduction in Fz peak during the stationary running exercise is typically somewhere between 40-58% at different submaximal intensities [11,17,24,25], whereas the impulse and LR were found to be 67.5-68.6% [11,24] and 20.6-38.6% [17] lower in the aquatic environment, respectively.…”

“…The stationary running exercise was selected for the present study because it is commonly used in exercise sessions in the aquatic environment, and its Fz response has been investigated previously in adult individuals in a variety of contexts, providing a great means of comparison for the present data [10,11,13,17,19,24,25,27]. This exercise is characterized by unipodal support and a flight phase.…”

“…The authors measured Fz during water aerobic exercises in adult women with grade 1 obesity and found a 60% reduction in the Fz peak (Fz peak ) during the stationary running exercise performed at a submaximal intensity in the aquatic compared to the land environment. Thus, it appears that the reduction in Fz peak during exercise in the aquatic environment can be even more significant for individuals with obesity than for those with normal weight (40 to 47%) [24,25], possibly due to differences in body density [13]. Moreover, increasing the stationary running intensity in women with obesity from submaximal to maximal resulted in a 6 to 25% increase in Fz peak in water, whereas the same intensity manipulation resulted in a more pronounced increase of 44 to 50% on land [13].…”

Horizontal ground reaction forces to stationary running performed in the water and on dry land at different physiological intensities

“…In order to evaluate the ground reaction force (GRF) in the aquatic environment, studies have been developed over the last two and a half decades (Alberton et al, 2013(Alberton et al, , 2014(Alberton et al, , 2015Barela & Duarte, 2008;Barela, Stolf, & Duarte, 2006;Colado et al, 2010;de Brito Fontana et al, 2012;de Brito Fontana et al, 2015;Harrison et al, 1992;Haupenthal et al, 2013;Haupenthal, Ruschel, Hubert, de Brito Fontana, & Roesler, 2010;Miyoshi, Shirota, Yamamoto, Nakazawa, & Akai, 2004;Nakazawa, Yano, & Miyashita, 1994;Roesler, Haupenthal, Schutz, & de Souza, 2006;Triplett et al, 2009) analysing their three components: vertical (Fz), anterior-posterior (Fy) and mediolateral (Fx). The results of these studies have shown that the aquatic environment changes the magnitude and shape of the force-time curve for the three GRF components in comparison to dry land (Miyoshi et al, 2004;Roesler et al, 2006).…”