A development of a starting block with strain gauges for a study of the relationship between initial speed and the forces at the starting moment for sprinters

Abstract

The importance of a runner’s start was briefly discussed in short distance athletic sports. The main research theme in this field has mainly been the relationship between the starting signal and the response speed of leg muscles. Records in short distance athletic sports have been improved by training athletes to increase their response speed. However, the improvements in records have also been due to the athlete’s speed at starting time; thus, there is another way to improve race times through the starting speed. Starting speed is related to the kicking force against the starting blocks at the start. The objectives of this research were to present an equipment for measuring forces acting upon a starting block at the start and to optimize the starting conditions for each athlete. To achieve these objectives, a starting block with Wheatstone bridge type strain gauges which could measure, in normal and horizontal directions, the propulsion forces acting on the starting blocks at a starting point in real-time, was developed and showed an uncertainty below 0.4%. The use of this block is expected to correct the posture of each athlete and record important sports dynamics data for each athlete.