College of Health

Context:

Form skipping has been used to help injured athletes progress to running. Because little research has been done on form-skipping mechanics, its justification as a progression to running exercises is unclear.
Objective:

To compare ground-reaction forces (GRF) during form skipping and running in healthy subjects at clinically relevant speeds, 1.75 m/s and 3.83 m/s, respectively.
Design:

Dependent t tests (α = .05).
Setting:

Sports-injury research center.
Participants:

9 male college athletes (age 20 ± 1.33 years, mass 848.4 ± 43.24 N, height 1.80 ± 0.07 m).
Main Outcome Measures:

Average (Fzavg) and maximum (Fzmax) vertical GRF and (Fy) braking impulse were compared.
Results:

Fzavg and Fzmax were greater during running than during form skipping (P < .05). Braking impulses were not different (P > .05).
Conclusions:

It appears that Fz, but not the Fy, GRF might explain why form skipping might be an appropriate progression to running.