How Joint Angles Influence Sprint Speed and Performance by Kaitlyn Eger

[This is a guest post by Kaitlyn Eger. Kaitlyn completed her Bachelor’s of Exercise Science degree at Youngstown State University while being a member of the track team. She has earned her Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification from the NSCA and is passionate about strength and conditioning and enhancing sports performance through evidence-based coaching. She recently completed the Applied Sport Science Track of Athletic Lab Coaching Mentorship Program. She will be continuing on to her Masters at Utah State also being apart of the track team for her last two years.] Speed isn't just built in the weight room—it's built through movement. An athlete can become stronger, more powerful, and more explosive, but if their sprint mechanics are inefficient, they will eventually hit a ceiling in performance. Just as proper technique is essential for maximizing strength during a lift, efficient biomechanics are critical for maximizing sprint speed. Oftentimes, a sprinter is already fast, whether you're naturally fast or not, any athlete will want to improve their speed, and to do that you must refine how they move. By analyzing sprint biomechanics, coaches can identify technical deficiencies and make small mechanical adjustments that lead to meaningful improvements in performance. It is best to understand the background, or the “why,” of a movement before doing so; that is where science comes into play. Understanding the biomechanics behind sprinting benefits not only sprinters but also athletes in field and court sports, where acceleration and change of direction are essential. Looking at different joint angles can help find a mechanical advantage for athletes on the field during game status and prevent more injury when it comes to change of direction work. Biomechanics is the scientific study of structure, [...]

By |2026-08-14T12:23:19-04:00July 27th, 2026|Training Info|0 Comments

Mechanics of Forefoot Running by Gaby Smith

[This is a guest blog by Gaby Smith. Gaby Smith completed her MS in Exercise Science at Northeastern University and is participating in the Athletic Lab Mentorship Program. Gaby is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and holds certifications with U.S. Soccer, USAW, and USTFCCCA.] Today's market is full of many different types of running footwear claiming to help runners run more efficiently, improve performance, and reduce the likelihood of injury. Minimalist footwear claims to help runners strike more on the forefoot, while traditional footwear provides more cushioning and promotes a heel first landing. Even with the technological advancements in running shoes, up to 79% of endurance runners are injured in a given year, with almost half (46%) of these injuries being recurrences (Davis et al., 2017). While the causes of these injuries are multifactorial, one of the hypothesized reasons for the high injury rate is the altered rear foot strike pattern promoted by cushioned running shoes. This change in loading and mechanics may not provide the optimal mechanical environment for the foot and ankle compared to the forefoot striking pattern commonly seen when barefoot or wearing minimalist running shoes. Background Humans have been running for millions of years. The modern running shoe was not invented until the 1970s, so for most of evolutionary history runners were barefoot or wore very minimalist footwear like sandals or moccasins (Lieberman et al. 2010). Runners were able to cope with the impact of the foot colliding with the ground using a predominately forefoot strike before bringing down the heel. Today, habitually shod runners rear-foot or heel strike as a result of the elevated and cushioned heel of modern shoes. Kinematic analysis shows that forefoot striking generates smaller collision [...]

By |2020-10-04T17:35:35-04:00October 5th, 2020|Training Info|0 Comments

Re-coaching the Squat by Riley Edmonds

[Riley Edmonds from St. Bonaventure University in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and is currently in the Coaching Mentorship Program at Athletic Lab.] Squatting is one of the most natural movements we do, and arguably one of the most important exercises we can use in training. The odds are everyone that has ever done any bit of exercise has probably been taught how to squat in one form or another. But what if I told you that what you were taught or are teaching is wrong? Okay, well maybe not totally wrong but certainly, the information currently in circulation by many coaches is a little outdated. Specifically, the idea that the knees should never pass the toes in a barbell back squat is wrong and should no longer be a common cue used by coaches. Imagine if you will two people, one fairly tall person and one fairly short person. In general, taller people have a relatively short torso but long legs, while shorter people have a relatively long torso but short legs. Now, when these two individuals perform a restricted squat, that is, a squat in which the knees are not supposed to pass the toes, the end result will be two very different looking squats. What you will probably see is the shorter individual will be able to squat just fine, keeping good posture and balance. (1) However, what you will typically see for a taller individual is a very hunched-over looking squat, with very poor posture and less balance. The simplest reason being that as the length of the leg, specifically the femur, increases relative to the torso, the center of mass will shift further backward, away from the [...]

By |2018-01-26T13:54:17-05:00January 26th, 2018|Training Info|0 Comments

Why the Deadlift is for You: A Mechanical Analysis by Zach Chokr

[Zachary Chokr is a senior at North Carolina State University majoring in Psychology, minoring in Sports Science, and a Certified Personal Trainer under the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He is currently an Athletic Development Intern at Athletic Lab.] The deadlift is one of the truest measures of total body strength as it recruits muscles from all regions of the body from the ground up. On the surface, the goal of the deadlift is essentially to pick up some weight off the ground to an erect, standing position. While bending over and hoisting a weight off the floor may seem simple, form and technique can be different for each individual (DuVall, 2017). However, the complexity of this lift can be easily overlooked. Some of the most important factors of the deadlift, and any exercise for that matter, is not just strength but form and technique. In my last blog post, I talked about the high bar and low bar squat. Now I am going to introduce two basic forms of the deadlift, and how you can benefit the most dependent on a variety of factors including your goals. The conventional deadlift is performed with your feet roughly shoulder width apart, with your hands outside of them; whereas the sumo deadlift typically requires a wider stance, and hands placed on the bar between the feet. This difference in positioning places varying demands on the muscles. Escamilla et al. (2000) found that the primary lower extremity muscles involved during the conventional deadlifts are the hamstrings, gluteus maximus, gastrocnemius, and soleus, compared to the gluteus maximus, hamstrings, quadriceps, and tibialis anterior during the sumo deadlift using electromyography (EMG). The conventional deadlift requires greater spinal flexion, about 5-10%; whereas [...]

By |2017-04-12T19:26:38-04:00April 4th, 2017|Training Info|0 Comments

The Achilles Heel of the Treadmill by Erin Ritterbusch

[This is a guest blog by Erin Ritterbusch who is currently an intern at Athletic Lab. Erin is a recent graduate of Auburn University where she received her Master's degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in biomechanics.] Growing up, my dad, an orthopedic surgeon, always told me to be wary of the treadmill. I really never understood those implications until I delved into the biomechanics of running during my master's program. Surprisingly, I was not able to find a lot of research articles on this topic. Anyone who has run outside as well as on a treadmill can attest to the fact that these are two very different feelings. However, does this mean that we are more susceptible to injury? I believe it does because we have to alter the way that we run in order to compensate for what is propelling this motion. When we run on flat ground, we are using our own momentum to push us forward to accelerate, to maintain, or to slow down. However, on a treadmill, the belt below us is pulling us backwards with every step we take. An article I came across on triathlete.com written by "The Gait Guys", as they are known, made some very strong points about how exactly the treadmill affects your stride and muscles. To make a comparison, running on the treadmill is similar to running downhill. The backward motion of the belt catches the heel and pulls the forefoot onto the belt when your lead foot comes into contact with the treadmill belt. This accelerated motion demands a higher level of muscle strength in the anterior part of your shins. This is what causes such a prevalence of shin splints in [...]

By |2017-04-12T19:28:20-04:00December 16th, 2016|Training Info|0 Comments

Rowing: does proper technique matter in terms of power production and does it help to prevent injury by Erin Ritterbusch

[This is a guest blog by Erin Ritterbusch who is currently an intern at Athletic Lab. Erin is a recent graduate of Auburn University where she received her Master's degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in biomechanics.] The first thing I learned when I joined the club rowing team at my undergrad was that technique is the most important aspect of becoming a powerful and efficient rower. Not only does it allow you to produce more power, but also helps prevent injuries that can occur with improper technique on the rowing machine. The sequence of a stroke is the basis of good technique, which helps rowers translate to the water. The biggest misconception with rowing is that power comes from your arms, but in actuality, the majority of power comes from your legs. The beginning of the stroke is called "the catch". The catch is then is followed by "the drive" phase, "the finish" or "release". The last phase of the stroke is "the recovery" phase. These four phases are sequential in nature rather than simultaneous because they should be treated as one fluid motion. *It should also be noted that the drive and recovery phases are normally seen as a 1:2 ratio; meaning that the time spent to "recover" on the way up the slide takes twice as long as driving the legs back during the power producing phase of the stroke. Creating this rhythm allows for the continuous flow of the stroke and gives you true recovery time. Additionally, on the water, it will reduce any forward jolting of the boat, which can set back the number of meters gained during the drive. 1: The Catch 2: The Drive [...]

By |2017-04-12T19:29:05-04:00November 1st, 2016|Training Info|1 Comment

Rounded Back Deadlifts by Isaac Smith

[Isaac Smith is a Senior at North Carolina State University and is currently enrolled in the Athletic Lab Coach Apprenticseship Program] When it comes to powerlifting, or even exercise in general, the deadlift is regarded as the king of all exercises. There isn't anything more satisfying than walking up to a loaded barbell and lifting it with all your might. While you can cheat many different exercises in the gym, there is no shortcut to deadlifting you either move the weight, or the weight moves you. While the goal of the deadlift is to raise a barbell from the floor and lock it out right below the hip, many people use different techniques to achieve this end position. Some may pull sumo style (wide feet and hands placed inside the thighs) and some may pull conventional style (feet approximately shoulder width apart and hands on the outside of the thighs). Among those who pull conventional, some tend to maintain a neutral spine throughout the duration of the lift while others may decide to blatantly round their upper backs before they initiate the deadlift and this may raise a few eyebrows. The reason many people oppose rounded back deadlifts is due to their concern for the lifter's safety. The spine can be delicate and prone to injury. When you begin to place it under heavy loads in positions that aren't optimal, this could be a recipe for disaster. When lifters round their lower backs during the deadlift, they could have the tendency to herniate disks due to the compression of the front side of the spine. In addition to the safety aspect, rounding your lower back makes completing the lift that much harder. Although the weight [...]

By |2017-04-12T19:36:08-04:00February 19th, 2016|Training Info|1 Comment

How to transition to Forefoot / Minimalist Running by Craig Kleinberg

[Craig Kleinberg is an Exercise Physiology master's student at the University of North Carolina and is an Athletic Development Intern at Athletic Lab.] Following up the evidence presented in my previous article or minimalist, barefoot, and forefoot striking, I will present 2 methods for transitioning to the new style of running. These are by no means absolute, but should provide some guidance on where and how to start. The most important aspect is to listen to your body and take the extra recovery day if needed. This is especially true for the more extreme forms of minimalism. The first method, as I alluded to in my first article comes from the Harvard website for barefoot running (https://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/index.html). Here it is stated to start out just walking around barefoot. I like to think of this in the same context as the Vibram recommendation. Begin by walking around the house or doing household chores barefoot with conscious effort landing on the forefoot for 30 minutes a day. Once you feel ready to run, the following progression should allow an easy transition: to 1 mile of forefoot striking for the first 1-2 weeks 10% increase in forefoot striking each following week Listen to your body, take the extra day off for recovery if needed Do not heel strike in minimalist shoes, either stop and switch shoes or wear traditional running shoes until you feel comfortable with the forefoot strike Back in February I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Irene Davis, director of the Spaulding National Running Center (link to bio: https://pmr.hms.harvard.edu/pages/45/194/), speak at a campus event. She is firm believer that no matter what you have done previously or where you are currently at, anyone can [...]

By |2017-04-13T11:01:41-04:00June 26th, 2014|Training Info|0 Comments
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