The key issue of the article is to identify whether constant left-sided turns influence body asymmetrical development during straight-line movement. From the physical point of view, a speed skater is a material body, which means that skating can be comparatively considered as a mechanical motion. Analyzing skating in straight-line zones, it can be noticed that the center of body mass changes its position in a curve that resembles a sine wave. Therefore, while looking at the speed skater`s movement in a frontal plane, we can notice that it looks like a regular pendulum motion. The objectives of the current study are: (1) to review the previous scientific research on asymmetry in speed skating; (2) to study scientific data devoted to technical peculiarities of movement in straight-line zones; (3) to analyze the speed skating moves in straight-line zones to identify asymmetry in movements (based on video recordings). Speed skating is an asymmetrical kind of sport. The previous research, reviewed in the context of the current study, proves that constantly repeated left-side turns does have influence on the human body. The most common consequences are defects in feet position with asymmetry and asymmetry of blood circulation in lower limbs. Asymmetry of lower limbs functioning can be clearly identified by analyzing the way different athletes move in straight-line zones. This asymmetry influences the change in the position of athletes` body mass center and the push-off angle. The change in the position towards the push-off leg should be sufficient since the more the change, the more efficient the push-off is. The current study analyzes video recordings of the 2017 World Single Distance Championship held in South Korea to investigate the change of the body mass center position at the beginning of the double support phase. In particular, the authors measured the deflection angle of the body mass center form the initial perpendicular position the athlete was standing during the single support phase. While analyzing the biomechanics of movements, the authors also measured the push-off time during the first and the second phases of skating moves in straight-line zones. The time for gliding and for push-off was found to differ for functional legs. The study results showed that asymmetrical movements of speed skaters influence the change of the body mass center, including changes of the push-off angle during skating at straight-line distances. Moreover, it is concluded that the lower limb motor asymmetry typical for speed skaters has no connection with moving in one direction and performing turns only to the left.
© Copyright 2017 Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Tomsk State University Journal. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator