Biomechanics in Athletics (Track and Field): From High Performance to Injury Prevention

The study of the biomechanics of athletics events has been ongoing since the antiquities, with the objective of improving performance and preventing injuries. New insights continue to be generated but due to the complex movement patterns required in athletics, there is still much to learn for biomechanics researchers and scholars. Indeed, a variety of skills are necessary in the different events, despite their apparent simplicity. For example, the body rotation in vertical jumping events, the rotational technique in throwing events and the lower limbs elevation and body posture required to successfully clear hurdles. Similarly, the prevention of injuries through improved biomechanics solutions also represents a key asset for coaches and athletes.

To improve the performance of athletes, coaches and team leaders are increasingly asking researchers to provide more insight on training, technique and performance. These insights do not benefit only elite athletes but also recreational and leisure time athletes. Whether the objective is competing or completing, biomechanics researchers have a central role to play in providing new knowledge and sound evidence to the athletics community. Therefore, the study of biomechanics in the context of athletics and its running, walking, jumping and throwing events is fundamental.

The aim of this Research Topic is to collect Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Reviews, Case Reports, Perspectives as well as other types of articles on the biomechanics of high performance and injury prevention in elite and recreational athletes. Areas of interest include (but are not limited to):

·        Experimental biomechanics studies that will help in further advancing knowledge in the fields of high performing athletes, recreational athletes and injury prevention

·        Promotion of new training strategies that are based on sound biomechanics evidence; to clarify unclear or still disputed aspects of biomechanics in athletics events

·        Biomechanical features of successful athletes

·        Prospective injury studies and randomized control trials adopting different biomechanical approaches and strategies

·        Case-control/retrospective studies examining the association of specific biomechanics behaviours and injury risk

·        Intervention studies assessing the effect of biomechanics driven training in elite athletes

·        Taking biomechanical measures out of the lab and into the athletes natural environment

·        Biomechanics as it pertains to performance and/or injury in athletes with disabilities

·        How big data and mobile technology can be used to bridge gaps between injury prevention and improvement in performance