Abstract

With the recent world-wide upsurge in running, the preponderance of research has been of a physiological nature. This is understandable when the cardiovascular benefits are considered. However, the biomechanical component is also very important, especially when trying to establish the aetiology of various musculoskeletal injuries or the principles underlying successful technique. In this paper, therefore, we are concerned with various biomechanical aspects of sprinting, middle and long distance running, and jogging. The topics covered include: the class of running gait (sprinting, jogging, ascending/descending, load carrying, treadmill); electromyography; joints; kinematics (both linear and angular); kinetics (force place, joint forces and torques, work/energy/power, air resistance); mathematical techniques and models; orthopedic acids; various pathologies; different methods of recording motion; and sports footwear and surfaces. The material should be relevant to both the elite and recreational athlete.