Introduction to Sports Biomechanics: Analysing Human Movement ...

INTRODUCTION TO SPORTS BIOMECHANICS
Figure 1.17 Older male running at his preferred speed in MBT trainers. Top left: left foot toe-off (0 s); top right: right
foot touchdown (0.12 s); middle left: right foot mid-stance; middle right: right foot toe-off (0.34 s); bottom left: left
foot touchdown (0.44 s); bottom right: left foot mid-stance.
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almost until touchdown, just before which the knee might flex slightly. The ankle
movements (see also, for example, Figure 3.13(b)) vary depending on whether the
runner lands on the forefoot or rear foot. The ankle is roughly in a neutral position at
touchdown, as in the reference positions of Figure 1.2. For a rear foot runner, in
particular, the ankle then plantar flexes slightly until the whole foot is on the ground;
dorsiflexion then occurs until mid-stance. The ankle plantar flexes from mid-stance