| dc.description.abstract | Sprinting can be described as the ability to cover a short distance in the fastest
possible time. It requires enormous stability, strength and speed to achieve this
goal. Any improvements in technique or speed can be the difference between winning and losing and ultimately gold or silver. Many coaches focus their training
on improving the mechanics of the lower limb in order to achieve their goal. They
often neglect to consider the effect the upper limb, head, neck and trunk has on the
sprinters technique. This study aimed to determine the effect the muscles that assist
in stabilising the head and neck namely the deep neck flexors, has on sprinting
technique. A systematic review was conducted to determine the factors that
influence the acquisition of the correct and most efficient sprint technique. Thereafter assessments were done to determine the prevalence of neck discomfort
and how it impacts the athlete’s life by use of the Disability Neck Index. In addition,
the endurance of the participant’s deep neck flexors using the Craniocervical Flexion Test and an analysis of their sprinting technique through video analysis were
conducted. Variables for each assessment were coded and analysed with Chisquared tests to determine statistically significant relationships. Results show that there was to prevalence of neck pain among participants and although the
participants have poor deep neck flexor endurance and an inadequate sprinting
technique, no statistically significant relationships could be found between these two
variables. Thus poor endurance in the deep neck flexors has no effect on sprinting
technique. The results of the study was limited due to a small sample size and lack
of equipment, thus further research is required in order to completely reject the
possibility that the deep neck flexors effects a sprinters ability to acquire an efficient
sprinting technique. | en_US |
