Introduction to Sports Biomechanics: Analysing Human Movement ...

MOVEMENT PATTERNS – THE ESSENCE OF SPORTS BIOMECHANICS
Figure 1.8 Same young female as in Figure 1.7 walking on a level treadmill at her preferred speed in trainers. Top left: right
foot touchdown (0 s); top right: left foot toe-off (0.14 s); middle left: right foot mid-stance; middle right: left foot
touchdown (0.52 s); bottom left: right foot toe-off (0.64 s); bottom right: left foot mid-stance.
halfway though the swing, when the knee extends again, before flexing slightly just
before touchdown. The ankle is roughly in a neutral position at touchdown, as in the
reference positions of Figure 1.2. The ankle then plantar flexes until the whole foot is
on the ground, when dorsiflexion starts; this continues until the other leg touches
down. Plantar flexion then follows almost to toe-off, just before which the ankle
dorsiflexes quickly to allow the foot to clear the ground as it swings forwards. As you
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