Case studies in physiology: The biomechanics of the fastest sprinter with a unilateral transtibial amputation

People have debated whether athletes with transtibial amputations should compete with non-amputees in track events despite insufficient information regarding how the use of running-specific prostheses affects athletic performance. Thus, we sought to quantify the spatio-temporal variables, ground reaction forces, and spring-mass mechanics of the fastest athlete with a unilateral transtibial amputation using an RSP to reveal how he adapts his biomechanics to achieve elite running speeds. Accordingly, we measured ground reaction forces during treadmill running trials spanning 2.87 to 11.55 m/s of the current male International Paralympic Committee T44 100 m and 200 m world record holder. To achieve faster running speeds, the present study's athlete increased his affected leg (AL) step lengths (p<0.001) through longer contact lengths (p<0.001), and his unaffected leg (UL) step lengths (p<0.001) through longer contact lengths (p<0.001) and greater stance average vertical ground reaction forces (p<0.001). Across running speeds, step time decreased for both legs (p<0.001) through shorter ground contact and aerial times (p<0.001). Unlike previous athletes with unilateral transtibial amputations, this athlete maintained constant AL and UL stiffness across running speeds (p≥0.569). Across speeds, AL step lengths were 8% longer (p<0.001) despite 16% lower AL stance average vertical ground reaction forces compared to the UL (p<0.001). The present study's athlete exhibited biomechanics that differed from those of athletes with bilateral and without transtibial amputations. Overall, we present the biomechanics of fastest athlete with a unilateral transtibial amputation across running speeds, providing insight into the functional abilities of athletes with transtibial amputations using running-specific prostheses.

from Physiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2xSmuIf
via IFTTT