UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Limiting Factors for Curved Sprinting Performance by Geng Luo A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY FACULTY OF KINESIOLOGY

...................................................................................................................... iii PREFACE .......................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................v DEDICATION .................................................................................................................. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................. viii LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... xii LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... xvii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS .......................................................... xviii EPIGRAPHY ................................................................................................................... xix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................1 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE .........................................6 2.1 Relevance of terrestrial locomotion along curves ..........................................................6 2.2 Mechanics of curved sprinting .......................................................................................7 2.2.1 Ground reaction forces during curved locomotion ...............................................7 2.2.2 GRFs during stride cycles .....................................................................................9 2.2.3 Management of angular momentum ...................................................................12 2.3 Potential limiting factors for curved sprinting performance ........................................14 2.3.1 Definition of performance ..................................................................................14 2.3.2 Traction at the ground contact interface .............................................................14 2.3.2.1 Friction and traction .........................................................................................15 2.3.2.2 Quantifications of traction ...............................................................................17 2.3.2.3 Traction and general locomotion performance ................................................19 2.3.2.4 Traction and curved sprinting performance .....................................................21 2.3.3 Limb extension force ..........................................................................................26 2.3.4 Non-sagittal plane lower extremity joint loading ...............................................29 2.3.5 Joint actuation .....................................................................................................31 2.3.6 Joint operation range ...........................................................................................34 2.4 Summary and Statement of Problem ...........................................................................35