The Association Between Changes in Speed Skating Technique and Changes in Skating Velocity

A meaningful association between changes (Delta) in push-off angle or effectiveness (e) and changes in skating velocity (v) has been found during 5000-m races, although no significant association was found between changes in knee (theta(0)) and trunk angle (theta(1)) and Delta v. It might be that speed skating event, sex, and performance level influence these associations. Purpose: To study the effect of skating event, sex, and performance level on the association between Delta e and Delta v and between Delta theta(0) and Delta theta(1) and Delta v. Methods: Video recordings were made from frontal (e) and sagittal views (theta(0) and theta(1)) during 1500- and 5000-m men's and women's World Cup races. Radio-frequency identification tags provided data of v. Results: Skating event influenced the association between Delta e and Delta v, which resulted in a significant association between Delta e and Delta v for the 5000-m (beta = -0.069, 95% confidence interval [-0.11, -0.030]) but not for the 1500-m (beta = -0.011 [-0.032, 0.010]). The association between Delta theta(0) and Delta theta(1) and Delta v was not significantly influenced by skating event. Sex and performance level did not substantially affect the association between Delta e and Delta v and between Delta theta(0) and Delta theta(1) and Delta v. Conclusions: Skating event significantly influenced the association between Delta e and Delta v; a 1 degrees change in e results in a 0.011-m/s decrease in v during the 1500-m and a 0.069-m/s decrease in v during the 5000-m. Thus, it seems especially important to maintain a small e during the 5000-m.