ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Exercise Physiology
This article is part of the Research TopicAssessment and Monitoring of Human Movement Volume IIView all 11 articles
Biomechanics-Based Analysis of Technical Characteristics in Skeleton Start and Specific Physical Training Strategies
Provisionally accepted
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources Conferred by Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
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Purpose: This study employed kinematic and kinetic testing to analyze the sport-specific parameters of the skeleton start, thereby elucidating its technical characteristics and establishing an empirical basis for training. Methods: Spatiotemporal parameters were captured using a 3D motion system, while ground reaction forces, impulses, and plantar pressure distribution were collected via a Ki-Sprint force platform and custom pressure sensors. Statistical analysis employed descriptive statistics, two-way ANOVA to evaluate factor effects, and appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests for group comparisons. Results: Athletes' average starting distance was 18.45 ± 2.09 m, achieved in 12.20 ± 1.11 steps, with no gender difference. Starting speed (male: 6.97 ± 0.42 m/s, female: 6.25 ± 0.58 m/s) and acceleration range (male: 3.31-6.26 m/s², female: 2.14-5.96 m/s²) differed significantly by gender. Step length differed between push-off (1.60 ± 0.14 m) and follow-up steps (2.09 ± 0.18 m), and between inner (2.60 ± 0.14 m, 0.44 ± 0.03 s) and outer steps (2.64 ± 0.13 m, 0.45 ± 0.03 s) in both length and duration. Take-off (2.71 ± 0.50 m) and preceding step (2.81 ± 0.58 m) lengths did not differ. The maximum horizontal force was 826.99 ± 217.18 N and average horizontal impulse was 264.43 ± 67.64 N·s, neither correlating with front-rear foot spacing. Average plantar pressure was higher during run-up (1.77 ± 0.76 kg/cm²) than take-off (1.19 ± 0.59 kg/cm²). Conclusions: The skeleton start is characterized by periodic speed-power movements akin to a hybrid of sprint acceleration and diving. Training should integrate regular sprints, specialized push simulations, and downhill sprinting to improve acceleration and maximal speed. Core stability, lower-limb maximal strength, and multi-joint power training should be implemented with consideration for gender-specific adaptations.
Keywords: Skeleton, Starting, Technical characteristics, training, winter sports
Received: 06 Sep 2025; Accepted: 17 Dec 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Hao and Kong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Qingtao Kong
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