The Kinetic Characteristics in Competitive Slalom Skiing
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MARJAANA THE KINETIC CHARACTERISTICS IN COMPETITIVE LAPPI SLALOM SKIING Masteroppgave i idrettsvitenskap Seksjon for fysisk prestasjonsevne | Norges idrettshøgskole, 2009 Marjaana Lappi Abstract The purpose of the present study was to quantify and describe ground reaction forces in competitive slalom skiing. Background: Recent alpine skiing research has measured forces in skiing using instrumentation which interferes to some extent with skiing technique. Instead, the rationale of this study was to estimate kinetic characteristics in competitive slalom skiing using plantar pressure measurement which minimizes technical interference and then to compare force characteristics in two courses typical of competitive slalom skiing. The specific research question was: What are the kinetic characteristics, force distribution and chatter in a slalom turn? Methods: 11 highly skilled, Norwegian male skiers were assessed through 5 left and 5 right slalom turns in the mid-portion of two race training courses with linear distances between gates of 10 and 13 meters. They were equipped with Pedar Insoles (Novel GmbH, Munich, Germany) from which ground reaction forces were determined and analyzed for kinetic characteristics. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, two-way repeated measures ANOVA and Pearson’s and partial correlation were used to compare the two courses and turn directions and to check for relationships. Kinetic characteristics of slalom turns were subject-specific. No significant differences were found in the magnitude of ground reaction forces between courses or turn directions. Timing of gate passing and the apex were significantly later on the 13 meter course, and the timing of apex was later in turns to the right-regardless of the course. Significantly greater chatter of the inside ski was found on the 10 meter course. Significance: The Pedar insole system provides useful knowledge enabling coaches to give precise technique suggestions to their athletes. Keywords: Kinetics, slalom skiing, inside/outside ski impulse ratio, chatter, Pedar 2 The kinetic characteristics in competitive slalom skiing Table of Contents ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................ 3 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES .......................................................................................................................... 7 NOTE ............................................................................................................................................................. 13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................................. 14 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 15 2 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................ 18 2.1 THE MECHANISMS OF SLALOM SKIING .............................................................................................................. 18 2.1.1 Slalom equipment geometry and functional implication .............................................................. 18 2.1.1.1 FIS regulations ..................................................................................................................................... 18 2.1.1.2 The geometry of slalom skis................................................................................................................ 18 2.1.1.1 The physical characteristics of slalom skis .......................................................................................... 19 2.1.1.2 The effect of ski boots on the skier-snow interaction ......................................................................... 21 2.1.2 The external forces in slalom skiing .............................................................................................. 21 2.1.1 Slalom turn phases ........................................................................................................................ 22 2.2 MEASUREMENTS OF GROUND REACTION FORCES IN SKIING .................................................................................. 24 2.2.1 Large loading forces in skiing ........................................................................................................ 24 2.2.2 The temporal characteristics of ground reaction forces ............................................................... 25 2.2.3 The lateral ski impulse distribution ............................................................................................... 25 2.2.4 Vibrations ...................................................................................................................................... 27 2.3 LATERAL LEG DOMINANCE ............................................................................................................................. 28 2.4 METHODS OF MEASURING GROUND REACTION FORCES IN SKIING .......................................................................... 30 2.4.1 Video based kinematics ................................................................................................................ 30 2.4.2 Force transducers .......................................................................................................................... 30 2.4.3 Pressure measurement systems .................................................................................................... 31 2.5 VALIDITY OF PEDAR INSOLES .......................................................................................................................... 31 2.5.1 The estimation of error ................................................................................................................. 34 3 RATIONALE AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................. 36 4 METHODS ............................................................................................................................................. 37 4.1 THE CHOICE OF FORCE INSTRUMENTATION ........................................................................................................ 37 4.1.1 The plantar pressure as a measurement tool ............................................................................... 37 4.2 THE CHOICE OF DESIGN ................................................................................................................................. 38 3 Marjaana Lappi 4.3 SUBJECTS ................................................................................................................................................... 40 4.4 SET UP OF THE COURSES ................................................................................................................................ 41 4.5 THE SKI EQUIPMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 43 4.6 THE PROCEDURE .......................................................................................................................................... 43 4.7 DATA ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................................................... 44 4.7.1 Recording and processing of data................................................................................................. 44 4.7.2 The method of estimating ground reaction forces ....................................................................... 45 4.7.1 Definitions and calculations of the kinetic variables ..................................................................... 46 4.7.2 Statistics ........................................................................................................................................ 50 4.7.3 Sources of error ............................................................................................................................. 51 4.8 THE PILOT STUDY ......................................................................................................................................... 52 4.9 ASSUMPTIONS ............................................................................................................................................ 52 4.10 LIMITATIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 53 4.10.1 The sample population ............................................................................................................. 53 4.10.2 The order of subject testing ..................................................................................................... 54 4.10.3 External factors ........................................................................................................................ 54 4.11 ETHICS ................................................................................................................................................. 55 4.12 THE SIGNIFICANCE ..................................................................................................................................