O.M. Mirzoev, associate professor, Ph.D.
Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sport, Youth and Tourism (SCOLIPC), Moscow
O.A. Mukhin, Honored coach of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Master of Sports of the USSR
Moscow State University of Culture and Arts, Moscow

Keywords: sprint, training simulator, saddleback running, spine, technique, common center of mass.

Introduction. The use of advanced technique aimed not only at developing and consolidating of, for example, technical skills, but also for their improvement is an important reserve for increasing the efficiency of athletes’ training. One can judge on efficiency and rationality of athlete’s technique by the final result.

As known, training and improvement of technical skills in sprint are very important at different phases of long-term training. The technique of "action" of sprinter's body parts when running a distance (arm movements, body position, leg movements) is built up by a trainer in the following manner. Trainer's (or someone who coaches) opinion can be based on the general knowledge of technical skills, as presented in educational and theoretical and methodological literature, or on the analysis of the running technique of elite athletes (in the Soviet-era text books the technique of two-time Olympic champion in 100 and 200 m run V. Borzov was taken as a basis), or on own world outlook (experience, intuition, etc.) and so on. Yet, it is not always possible to solve the issues of improvement of technical skills, which would help train elite sprinters, specifically in Russia, in reliance of the above mentioned.

Consequently, a trainer's approach to the exercise technique and technical training as such is essential for athlete's success in sprinting, and this despite the fact that sprint can hardly be classified as a technical field event, but all the same.

When training, developing and improving the distance running technique, all trainer's directions during training and in competitive conditions should be predicated on an individual approach basing on a rational technique rather than its model. Comments and hints like "use your hands", "do not swing your body", "watch your posture" or "run quicker", etc. - all this is a comparison with the model existing in trainer's imagination.

It is well known that the issue of improvement of technical skills of athletes specializing in 60, 100, 200 and 400 m run is solved by trainers, athletes and specialists by means of numerous exercises designed with regard to age, sex, fitness level and so on and so forth. But, at the same time, accurate estimation of technique, including the current one, sprint, is also essential, for instance, when an athlete runs a distance (in our case, we omit the start and starting stride - approximately, up to 20 m, finish).

The use of auxiliary (additional) aids is one of the ways to train and improve running technique of sprinters in the race. These aids are intended to create more reliable and at the same time efficient conditions for the growth of technical skills.

The purpose of the study was to develop exercise equipment that could help male and female sprinters train an efficient (rational) technique to be used in the race.

Results and discussion. Auxiliary training aids for sprinters are used to support an athlete during continuous running in the race at maximum (to the extent possible) speed, infix this feeling and employ it further in competitive conditions. For this purpose we designed a dedicated device in the form of an exercise equipment so the running technique of sprinters could be treated in a bit different way.

We assume that one of the most efficient trends in athletes' running technique in the race is a kind of run, or in fact the body position when running a distance, which we figuratively call saddleback (S-shaped curve). We believe that the designated trend can also be applied to male and female athletes specializing in sprint.

As is known, lordosis (from Greek. λορδός - bent forwards, stooping) is a curvature of the spine with the convexity facing forward. In turn, we know that physiological lordosis is formed in the cervical and lumbar spine. In our case, we will refer to the lumbar lordosis. It is to be noted, however, that we do not mean display of the maximum lordosis, which is observed in patients.

Saddleback running shall be understood to mean such sprinter's body position when his pelvis is slightly displaced forward relative to the thoracic spine (and in fact shifted to the common centre of mass near lumbus). In this case, an athlete does not need to increase the distance of taking of the hips and pelvis forward artificially and expend more energy in order to perform a jogging step. During saddleback running the hip is taken forward and the pelvis is displaced simultaneously and naturally. And in this case the hip is not brought far forward (which is observed in running technique of most sprinters) and the foot, instantly meeting the support, "moves off" it promptly. As a result, this shortens the contact time and take-off time, which allows for bringing the hips together more quickly. According to M. Kurakin, changes in step frequency and length, being the components of speed, are associated with the change of duration of the support phase [1].

The spine, being the basis of the human locomotor system, is essential in depreciation processes in athletes during performance of motor actions. In such a case, for example, when performing a running exercise at high mobility of the lumbar vertebrae (the "rigidity" of the lumbar vertebrae is disturbed), time on the support increases, horizontal velocity and working capacity reduce (what is meant here is, for instance, a premature and significant decrease in speed in the second half of the 100 and 200 m distances, which is mostly observed in Russian athletes) [3].

The condition of the spine is much influenced by the back muscle strength (it is an important point we draw attention to). Strength capacity of the back muscles has its limits. Is there a chance to reduce the lumbar vertebrae mobility during running (that is, increase the "rigidity" of the lumbar vertebrae) and increase the back muscle strength and its manifestation in different modes, which makes it possible for an athlete to demonstrate more economic and efficient running?

Fig. 1. Simulator (exercise equipment) to build saddleback running technique
1 – the shoulder strap, fixating the base of the simulator;
2 – the chest belt, fixating the shoulder strap and the base of the simulator;
3 – the base of the simulator; 4 – the rubber shock absorber attached to the shoulder strap and passing through the base of the simulator into the knee joint;
5 – the rubber shock absorber, attached to the base of the simulator, knee and ankle joints;
6 – the anchors for mounting the knee joint; 7 – the ankle straps.

To solve this problem during the training process, we suggest a special training simulator (exercise equipment), that is recommended to be used as an auxiliary factor, for instance, for shifting CCM forward (Fig. 1). This device simulator (exercise equipment) was designed and offered by the authors of the paper as an auxiliary aid (or possibly the main one) for training and improving running technique (the question is the body position during distance running, CCM shift, step frequency rise, one of speed components, etc.).

Fig. 2.  Athlete's body position with the simulator when running a distance                                        1
             1 – exercise equipment;
             2 - rubber shock absorbers.

However, we assume that another key point is that the current exercise equipment develops in sprinters the skill to run in a "seat-like" way. In this instance, comfortable conditions for displacement of the pelvis forward are created. All this enables to be, so to speak, in the forward step, which, in turn, makes it possible to perform an economic (fast) cycle of motion - brining the hips together faster when running a distance (Fig. 2).     

Conclusion. All of the aforesaid contributes to the practical implementation of saddleback running. Thanks to the latter one can significantly decrease the mobility of the lumbar vertebrae (improve the "rigidity" of the system - from the cervical to the sacral spine), reduce the contact time on the support, shift CCM forward, and consequently enhance the efficiency (economy) of running. In other words, this available aid (the exercise equipment can be easily constructed from the materials on hand, weights 2.5-3 kg and is easy to transport) predetermines the gradual increase in the quality of distance running under difficult conditions. When reasonably used, difficult conditions help an athlete exceed his usual efforts in order to advance on, which helps develop muscle strength for the purpose of improvement of speed components.

It is necessary to acknowledge that the technique generated when using the auxiliary aid (training simulator) should be available for an athlete in further competitive conditions, too (this assertion was substantiated in the process of the long-term use of the exercise equipment by athletes).

In Cunningham's opinion [4], when implementing auxiliary aids, those that facilitate and those that obstruct movement, it is necessary to follow the rule of 10%, i.e. it is recommended to either increase or reduce speed by 10%, otherwise biomechanics of steps changes significantly and there emerges a risk of injury (the author's personal opinion, which contradicts the opinion of the authors of the present paper).

Based on the above, the exercise equipment helps develop the efficient "S-shaped" ("saddleback") running technique in male and female athletes specializing in 30, 100, 200 and 400 m run, "convexity" of the lumbar forward (in fact, shifting of CCM by means of fastening of the simulator to the lumbar) in the area of the 4^th-5^th vertebrae, as well as continuous retention of this position (which is relevant, for example, for male and female runners at 200 and 400 m distances) when performing the main competitive exercise. Most significantly, such state (position) of the body of athletes, generated with the help of our integral device, helps solve the following tasks:

– to reduce the time of a sprinter on the support during running;

– to perform fast spreading and bringing of legs together when running (that is, increase the frequency of steps - one of the components of speed);

– to increase the step frequency against the background of the stable "behavior" of the step length;

– to control the frequency of running steps against the background of fatigue, as necessary during 200 and 400 m run;

– to keep high tempo of movement in a continuous manner, which is required during 60 and 100 m run in competitive conditions;

– to keep tempo of movement more continuously during training activity; 

– the "S-shaped" state (position) of the body, which is generated by means of the exercise equipment, helps reduce depreciation of the entire body of an athlete during his staying on the support when running, otherwise, an athlete loses speed throughout the distance;

– to preserve angular characteristics of the entire body for a long time by means of the rubber shock absorbers. For example, acceleration and slowdown of the hip, enhancement of the back muscle strength;

– to improve strength endurance (by means of overcoming resistance using the rubber shock absorbers when running a distance);

– to improve speed abilities (owing to enhancement of the speed components);

– to improve special endurance (by means of overcoming resistance using the rubber shock absorbers when running 150 to 300 m distances with 75-80% intensity).

Thus, we believe, using the training simulator, presented in this work, one can succeed in settling the matters related with development, consolidation and improvement of certain parts of the technique, conditioning the running speed, in addition to the positive effect of the simulator rendered on special physical fitness.

In conclusion, it should be noted that to see the effect a training session with the use of aids should be conducted starting from the end of the phase of initial specialization, that is with the athletes who have gone through the preliminary training phase and much of the initial specialization and finishing with the elite sports skills training phase. Exercises with the training simulator can be used twice a week microcycle in the preliminary and competition periods (against the background of volume of running load and increasing intensity of exercise performed).

The elements of saddleback running are or were demonstrated by a number of world-class athletes: L. Kondrat’eva (USSR, 100 m run), М. Johnson (USA, 200 and 400 m run) I. Lalova (Bulgaria, 100 and 200 m run), Т. Gay (USA, 100 and 200 m run), Sh.-A. Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica, 100 and 200 m run), U. Bolt (Jamaica, 100 and 200 m run) and others. In some people it can be inheritable, and acquired during their professional activity - in others.

This exercise equipment was implemented (and is currently used) in the training activity of a number of European sprinters. It proved its effectiveness, which had already enabled athletes to achieve successful results.

The present authors filed an application (Application № 2013103622/12 of 20.01.2013; the application was published in the Official Journal "Inventions. Utility models", №22 of 10.08.2014) for a patent on the exercise equipment by the Federal Intellectual Property Service of the Russian Federation "Device for building running technique in athletes". There was granted the Patent № 2531729 (the official action was published in the Official Journal "Inventions. Utility models", № 30 of 27.10.2014) [5].

While waiting for the exercise equipment patent to be granted, we made certain amendments in its construction. In particular, "the base of the exercise equipment" (Fig. 1, Legend № 4) was redesigned, and a "roller" in the shape of a cylinder could also be used instead.

References

1. Kurakin, M. Vzaimosvyaz’ begovykh parametrov (Relationship of running parameters) / M. Kurakin // Legkaya atletika. – 1972. – № 2. – P. 15.
2. Ozolin, E.S. Sprinterskiy beg (Sprinting) / E.S. Ozolin. – Moscow: Chelovek, 2010. – 76 P.
3. Mirzoev, O.M. Sorevnovatel’naya deyatel’nost’ sil’neyshikh sprinterov i bar’eristov Rossii, Evropy i mira. Sprinterskiy i bar’erny beg (sorevnovatel’naya deyatel’nost’ po itogam 2013 g.): uchebno-metodicheskoe posobie (Competitive activity of the strongest sprinters and hurdlers in Russia, Europe and the world. Sprint and hurdling (competitive activity at the end of 2013): teaching aid) / O.M. Mirzoev, V.M. Maslakov. - Voronezh: Nauchnaya kniga. – Iss. 19. – 2014. – 368 P.
4. Shifer, Yu. Trenirovka s tsel’yu preodoleniya skorostnogo bar’era (Training to overcome speed barrier) / Yu. Shifer // Legkoatleticheskiy vestnik. – 2011. – № 1-2. – P. 9–12.
5. www1.fips.ru

Corresponding author: prorector@mail.ru