This study investigated the influence of human morphology upon selected physiological, biomechanical and psychological responses to horizontal locomotion. In so doing, it was possible to evaluate the effectiveness with which morphology-normalised speeds of walking and running reduced the between-subject variability that is inherent in human locomotor responses. Twenty caucasian males were divided into two groups on the basis of stature - ten subjects in each of a "short" category (<170cm) and a "tall" category (>185cm). All subjects were habituated to treadmill locomotion prior to exposure to three walking treatments (0.83, 1.39 and 1.94m.s⁻¹) and three running treatments (2.50, 3.06 and 3.61m.s⁻¹). During each of these five-minute locomotor conditions, energetic (V02), kinematic (cadence and stride length) and psychophysical (central and local RPE) data were captured. From these data, lines of best fit were calculated for each subject, allowing for a prediction of the abovementioned locomotor variables from known absolute rates of progression. Using suitable regression equations, subject responses to morphology-normalised speeds of walking and running were effectively extrapolated. When the rate of progression was expressed in absolute terms (m.s⁻¹), significant differences (P <0.05) were found between the stature-related groups with respect to both energetic and kinematic locomotor responses. Such differences were successfully eliminated when use was made of locomotor speeds relativised on the basis of morphology. This study concludes that the use of appropriately prescribed morphology-normalised rates of progression are effective in reducing the variability in locomotor responses between subjects differing significantly in stature.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:rhodes/vital:5166 |
| Date | January 1989 |
| Creators | Williams, Martin Andrew |
| Publisher | Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Human Movement Studies |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Masters, MSc |
| Format | 272 pages, pdf |
| Rights | Williams, Martin Andrew |
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