Can coordination variability identify performance factors and skill level in competitive sport? The case of race walking

TLDR

Marginal changes in competitive sports movements can significantly affect performance, yet these differences only appear at certain intensities and are difficult to detect with conventional biomechanical methods. The study examined whether competition level and progression speed influence race walking kinematics from both conventional and coordination‑variability perspectives. Fifteen experienced athletes (elite, international, national) walked on a treadmill at 12.0 and 15.5 km/h while basic gait parameters, pelvis and lower‑limb angular displacements, and variability in continuous relative phase across six joint couplings were measured. Speed changes affected most spatio‑temporal, kinematic, and coordination‑variability metrics, while nonlinear dynamics revealed competition‑level differences that conventional tools missed; coordination variability, especially continuous relative phase, proved more sensitive for detecting skill‑dependent factors and holds promise for athlete assessment and monitoring.

Abstract

Marginal changes in the execution of competitive sports movements can represent a significant change for performance success. However, such differences may emerge only at certain execution intensities and are not easily detectable through conventional biomechanical techniques. This study aimed to investigate if and how competition standard and progression speed affect race walking kinematics from both a conventional and a coordination variability perspective. Fifteen experienced athletes divided into three groups (elite, international, and national) were studied while race walking on a treadmill at two different speeds (12.0 and 15.5 km/h). Basic gait parameters, the angular displacement of the pelvis and lower limbs, and the variability in continuous relative phase between six different joint couplings were analyzed. Most of the spatio-temporal, kinematic, and coordination variability measures proved sensitive to the change in speed. Conversely, non-linear dynamics measures highlighted differences between athletes of different competition standard when conventional analytical tools were not able to discriminate between different skill levels. Continuous relative phase variability was higher for national level athletes than international and elite in two couplings (pelvis obliquity—hip flex/extension and pelvis rotation—ankle dorsi/plantarflexion) and gait phases (early stance for the first coupling, propulsive phase for the second) that are deemed fundamental for correct technique and performance. Measures of coordination variability showed to be a more sensitive tool for the fine detection of skill-dependent factors in competitive race walking, and showed good potential for being integrated in the assessment and monitoring of sports motor abilities.