Scientists continue to chase the Holy Grail of Running Biomechanics with profiles and categories, yet remain blind to the true force behind every stride.

In general, people have the impression that flexibility = stretching. That flexibility is just as simple as stretching your muscles in order to lengthen them to get a bigger range of motion. People misconceive that after stretching, we can relax our muscles, and by doing this, prevent our injuries. This is what we have been taught, educated by press, articles and books in the fitness field. There is a long-standing misunderstanding of what flexibility is all about. FLEXIBILITY ≠ STRETCHING Flexibility Flexibility, (“flex” means “bend”, or ability to bend) as a bio-motor capacity, is the ability of your joints to…

I often hear long discussions about muscles, fibers, and their functions. And I can’t help but wonder – are people talking about doing something, or are they just talking about anatomy? If your goal is to study anatomy or satisfy a scientific curiosity, then exploring muscles, tissues, and fibers makes perfect sense. But if you are an athlete or a coach, that kind of knowledge, while interesting, will not make you better at your craft. Curiosity is natural, but practical application is what truly matters. Types of ‘Knowing’ In sport and training, there are things we need to know and…

We use the word ‘standard’ on daily basis, we’re all very familiar with its meaning. Here’s a quick sample of the meaning given in a dictionary just so we’re on the same page: standard |ˈstandərd| noun 1 a level of quality or attainment 2 an idea or thing used as a measure, norm, or model in comparative evaluations: the wages are low by today’s standards | the system had become an industry standard. • (standards) principles of conduct informed by notions of honor and decency: a decline in moral standards. • a form of language that is widely accepted as…

All human movement is gravity-dependent. Whether you’re running, swimming, walking to your car or reaching for milk in your refrigerator – you’re moving under the influence of gravity.

What is hidden behind the outer, visible picture of running that defines the superiority of this talented sprinter?

What is muscle elasticity? If you were to stretch a muscle you would see it shrink back a bit. In plain words, it’s a natural ability to recover to original form upon the removal of the force initially applied. In physical activity it is the ability of muscles to perform work, specifically, to contract rapidly after and immediately prior to extension. A human body is a mix of physics, geometry, psychology and all that good stuff, so we should not talk about muscles and their function as separate from the whole. Muscles are a part of our entire system, and…

Stride frequency is a very important parameter of running technique. Why do we pay so much attention to it? Why is 180 so important?

The original article (below) on the topic at hand, was published in Biomechanics of Distance Running in 1990. As you read the data and conclusions from this research you’ll see that the scientific community was not ready to accept the idea of the role of gravity as a leading force in running. A classical vision of gravity strictly as a vertical force was predominant in the scientists’ minds and didn’t allow them to look at the facts from a different perspective. The most important thing there, a relationship between extensor muscles and gravity as one non-conflicting system with reciprocal coordination…