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Schrurs C, Dubois G, Van Erck-Westergren E, Gardner DS. Does sex of the jockey influence racehorse physiology and performance. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273310. [PMID: 36044425 PMCID: PMC9432741 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The racing industry is supported by a predominance of female stablehands and work riders, but few become professional jockeys. Female jockeys have recently had notable race success. No study has assessed whether the sex of the rider may subtly influence racehorse physiology to affect performance. Here, using a validated exercise tracking system (the ‘Equimetre’™) that records many physiological parameters simultaneously, this study characterised racehorse cardiovascular (heart rate, heart rate recovery) and biomechanical (stride length and frequency) parameters at various exercise intensities (slow canter to hard gallop) to address the question whether any parameter varied according to sex of the rider. A total of 530 Thoroughbreds, varying in age (2–7 years old) and sex (including geldings), from one racing yard in Australia, completed a total of 3,568 exercise sessions, monitored by a single trainer, on varying track surfaces (sand, turf, or fibre). Different work riders,103 in total (male, n = 66; female, n = 37) of which n = 43 were current or past registered professional jockeys, participated in the study. Data were analysed using analysis of variation (ANOVA) or mixed-effect models, as appropriate. Sex of the rider did not influence (P > 0.05) racehorse speed nor stride length at any training intensity. Racehorse heart rate and peak heart rate increased with training intensity (P < .001), with no difference according to sex of rider (P > 0.05). Racehorse heart rate recovery was influenced by sex of the rider, but only at the extremes of the reversed, usual training intensity on each surface (e.g. heart rate after galloping on sand was significantly lower with male riders, P = 0.03). Finally, analysis of 52,464 race results indicated a similar chance of a top-three placing for male and female jockeys. In conclusion, this study, using objectively obtained data, demonstrates for the first time no overt effect of the rider’s sex on racehorse physiology in training and performance in racing. Such data could encourage greater female participation in racing and improve access of female jockeys to better quality mounts in racing events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Schrurs
- School of Veterinary Medicine & Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (CS); (DSG)
| | | | | | - David S. Gardner
- School of Veterinary Medicine & Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (CS); (DSG)
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Hébert-Losier K, Finlayson SJ, Lamb PF, Driller MW, Hanzlíková I, Dubois B, Esculier JF, Beaven CM. Kinematics of recreational male runners in "super", minimalist and habitual shoes. J Sports Sci 2022; 40:1426-1435. [PMID: 35699253 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2022.2081767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
We conducted an exploratory analysis to compare running kinematics of 16 male recreational runners wearing Nike Vaporfly 4% (VP4), Saucony Endorphin racing flat (FLAT), and their habitual (OWN) footwear. We also explored potential relationships between kinematic and physiological changes. Runners (age: 33 ± 12 y, V˙ O2peak: 55.2 ± 4.3 ml · kg-1·min-1) attended 3 sessions after completing an V˙ O2peak test in which sagittal plane 3D kinematics at submaximal running speeds (60%, 70% and 80% ʋ V˙ O2peak) were collected alongside economy measures. Kinematics were compared using notched boxplots, and between-shoe kinematic differences were plotted against between-shoe economy differences. Across intensities, VP4 involved longer flight times (6.7 to 10.0 ms) and lower stance hip range of motion (~3°), and greater vertical pelvis displacement than FLAT (~0.4 cm). Peak dorsiflexion angles (~2°), ankle range of motion (1.0° to 3.9°), and plantarflexion velocities (11.3 to 89.0 deg · sec-1) were greatest in FLAT and lowest in VP4. Foot-ground angles were smaller in FLAT (2.5° to 3.6°). Select kinematic variables were moderately related to economy, with higher step frequencies and shorter step lengths in VP4 and FLAT associated with improved economy versus OWN. Footwear changes from OWN altered running kinematics. The most pronounced differences were observed in ankle, spatiotemporal, and foot-ground angle variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Hébert-Losier
- Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand.,Research & Development, The Running Clinic, Lac Beauport, Québec, Canada
| | - Steven J Finlayson
- Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | - Peter F Lamb
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Matthew W Driller
- Sport and Exercise Science, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ivana Hanzlíková
- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Blaise Dubois
- Research & Development, The Running Clinic, Lac Beauport, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-Francois Esculier
- Research & Development, The Running Clinic, Lac Beauport, Québec, Canada.,Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christopher Martyn Beaven
- Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
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Quan W, Zhou H, Xu D, Li S, Baker JS, Gu Y. Competitive and Recreational Running Kinematics Examined Using Principal Components Analysis. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9101321. [PMID: 34683001 PMCID: PMC8544359 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9101321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinematics data are primary biomechanical parameters. A principal component analysis (PCA) of waveforms is a statistical approach used to explore patterns of variability in biomechanical curve datasets. Differences in experienced and recreational runners' kinematic variables are still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to compare any differences in kinematics parameters for competitive runners and recreational runners using principal component analysis in the sagittal plane, frontal plane and transverse plane. Forty male runners were divided into two groups: twenty competitive runners and twenty recreational runners. A Vicon Motion System (Vicon Metrics Ltd., Oxford, UK) captured three-dimensional kinematics data during running at 3.3 m/s. The principal component analysis was used to determine the dominating variation in this model. Then, the principal component scores retained the first three principal components and were analyzed using independent t-tests. The recreational runners were found to have a smaller dorsiflexion angle, initial dorsiflexion contact angle, ankle inversion, knee adduction, range motion in the frontal knee plane and hip frontal plane. The running kinematics data were influenced by running experience. The findings from the study provide a better understanding of the kinematics variables for competitive and recreational runners. Thus, these findings might have implications for reducing running injury and improving running performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Quan
- Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (W.Q.); (H.Z.); (D.X.)
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, H-8201 Veszprém, Hungary
- Savaria Institute of Technology, Eötvös Loránd University, 9700 Szombathely, Hungary
| | - Huiyu Zhou
- Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (W.Q.); (H.Z.); (D.X.)
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow G72 0LH, UK
| | - Datao Xu
- Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (W.Q.); (H.Z.); (D.X.)
| | - Shudong Li
- Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (W.Q.); (H.Z.); (D.X.)
- Correspondence: (S.L.); (Y.G.)
| | - Julien S. Baker
- Department of Sport and Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Yaodong Gu
- Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (W.Q.); (H.Z.); (D.X.)
- Correspondence: (S.L.); (Y.G.)
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Kim HK, Mei Q, Gu Y, Mirjalili A, Fernandez J. Reduced joint reaction and muscle forces with barefoot running. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2021; 24:1263-1273. [PMID: 33522848 DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2021.1880572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Barefoot running has been associated with lowered joint loading, but it remains unclear whether the biomechanical benefits are evident after mid-distance running. A musculoskeletal model was adopted for estimating lower limb joint loading for barefoot (n = 10) versus shod (n = 10) 5 km running. The barefoot group reduced peak joint reaction force at the hip and knee, and presented muscle force reductions compared to shod controls with significant group effects and interaction effects (p < .05). These changes were primarily group effects as time point effects were not significant. These findings should be considered when designing barefoot running shoes, running programmes, and injury prevention programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Kyung Kim
- Kinesiology Department, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.,Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Qichang Mei
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.,Research Academy of Grand Health Interdisciplinary, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yaodong Gu
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.,Research Academy of Grand Health Interdisciplinary, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Ali Mirjalili
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Justin Fernandez
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Research Academy of Grand Health Interdisciplinary, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.,Department of Engineering Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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