A Functional and Biomechanical Analysis of the Long Jump
Although the long jump has no scientific name associated with it, scientific and mathematical processes are involved whenever an athlete does it. While performing a jump, an athlete has to be methodological about it with steps that guide the whole process from the start. The approach in which run, take-off, flight, and landing are handled determines the success of the jump aside from just being fit. This paper aims at exploring the functional and biochemicals of the long jump. To understand the techniques used in the measurement of the jump and give recommendations on possibly some of the training techniques, an individual should consider training for the long jump.
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the science behind the long jump, it is paramount to understand some of the terminologies associated with it. Kinematics is the description of the motion of the human body about acceleration, position, and displacement. Kinetics is a branch of biomechanics associated with the development of and the forces that affect a body externally and internally for it to move (Kinzel & Gutkowski, 1983). Understanding these two concepts will assist in describing the mechanism involved in the long jump. Other important factors important to understanding the activity include the anatomy and physiology of the muscles and aspects of velocity, speed, and acceleration.
Biomechanics of the Long Jump
Since the beginning of contemporary athletics in the mid-nineteenth century, the technique that has been used in the long jump has not changed. The athlete dashes along with the runway, jumps from a wooden take-off point, and shoots up through the air before landing in the sandpit. A jumper must be; harmonious in his/her movements enough to perform the slightly complex dash, flight, and eventual landing. He or she also should have athletic legs for jumping and a quick sprinter for success. Women jumpers at the top of their performance can achieve a jump distance of about 6.5-7.5, whereas men, who are stronger and faster than women, can achieve about 8.0-9.0 meters (Linthorne, 2008). Disregarding the athlete’s gender or abilities, objectives remain the same for each phase of the long jump. The athlete’s positioning accurately on the take-off plank and maintaining a horizontal position throughout his or her run produces the best jumps possible. The movement phases, muscle action of prime movers, joint kinetics, the center of mass, and the mechanical energies have been clearly outlined.
Movement Phases
The phases of the long jump are divided into four phases: the dashing phase, take-off, the flight, and finally, the landing phase. In the beginning, when the athlete dashes through the runway signifies the dashing phase. The athlete’s few steps while almost approaching the wooden plank before leaving the ground signifies the take-off phase. While the athlete is flying through the air after jumping signifies the flight phase. At this point, the athlete is expected to do his or her best to maintain the flight for better results. Lastly, the landing phase happens when the athlete returns to the ground.
It is important to stress some factors like velocity, angle time, and height as these factors determine the distance the athlete covers during his or her projectile movement. Though these variables are constant and dependent on one another for a successful jump, many changes can be implemented to the athlete’s skills to change these variables. These changes happen during the dashing and the take-off phase, though they also occur in all the different phases and will most definitely be dependent on one another (Seyfarth et al., 1999). For example, the velocity with which the athlete leaves the ground relies on the speed at which he or she runs. At the same time, the peak height attained by the jumper is dependent on the velocity at which he or she is pushed off the ground with as much as the vertical velocity. The general jump distance will be affected by all these factors at the end.
Dashing Phase
This phase is initiated with the athlete standing at the beginning of the runway and ends with a few moves remaining before the athlete switches to the take-off phase. For the athlete to reach the furthest distance possible, establishing the velocity during this phase is important. This velocity will propel the jumper throughout the other phases. The jumper remains stationary at the start of the dashing phase, with gravity being the only force acting on him towards the ground. He or she will remain in this position until he or she decides to start moving, wherein the law of inertia takes action at this point. The athlete has to maintain high speeds to achieve the best velocity to enter a higher jump (Kamnardsiria et al., 2015). Velocity is key during this phase because it is this velocity that will transform into horizontal velocity and be key in the formation of the vertical velocity.
Take-Off
At this phase, whatever occurs will ultimately be important in creating the distance the athlete will attain because it is considered the most important phase of the long jump. While running along the runway, the athlete enters this phase. The angular momentum is developed from all directions here, and the athlete links the start of the jump to the end. The athlete at this point is supposed to lower their center of mass, which reduces the take-off height. The phase is developed during the change from the dashing phase to the take-off (Čoh, Žvan, & Kugovnik, 2017). During take-off, the switch from horizontal to vertical movement is distinguished either as having its different magnitude and direction of motion. The athlete’s time spent on the air and the athlete achieves will be determined by the vertical velocity developed by the athlete; if the athlete maintains a uniform velocity, the height and point at which the athlete would be expected to attain can be calculated from these values.
Flight
The flight phase advances the horizontal displacement when the athlete has taken more due to the noticeably huge contribution; this is one reason for considering this phase of the long jump. The overall objective for the long jump is to attain a maximum distance in the jump; therefore, the distance attained here during the flight phase is crucial for the athlete to realize maximum jump. It is common for the jumper to want to remain in flight for as long as possible (Čoh, Žvan, & Kugovnik, 2017). Common variables like take-off angle, velocity, and resistance that would commonly affect any other projectile are the same that would also affect the athlete. Forty-five degrees or less is the best take-off angle for the best flight time to be attained; this is because horizontal velocity is large, whereas time during take-off is not. Athlete’s position also does matter during the flight for them to realize the best distance covered. The three techniques that can be used for the flight include; sail technique, hang technique, and the hitch-kick or running in the air technique.
Landing
The type of technique during the flight phase does not affect how the end performance will be, as either technique is dependent solely on the jumper’s decision. The most effective landing technique; however, as research has shown, is the hitch-kick technique. Ensuring safe landing, the jumper prepares his or her body by extending the legs forward, dropping the head and chest, and finally keeping the arms behind the hips when contact is made with the ground. How the athlete positions and moves his or her trunk affects the distance, they would cover during the jump. An athlete, while landing, will normally feel some torque that rotates him anticlockwise during the landing (Fattah & Bataineh, 2020). In generating the best long jump distance, many variables play bigger roles, as is evident.
Muscle Action and Joint Kinematics
The positioning of the foot down during landing is the most important aspect of the long jump in which the low center of mass facilitates this. The mechanisms that operate as a result of this include; activation of leg muscles before touch-down, thereby providing strong resistance to flexion at the major joints (Fattah & Bataineh, 2020). This enables the center of mass to move over the base by initiating the vertical velocity of the center of mass when the extensor muscles start their contraction during maximum knee flexion. Positioning of the foot before the center of mass prolongs the time force can be created, leading to a more increased vertical impulse. Vigorously lifting the free leg and arm can enhance this. Reduction of shock is achieved by flexing the hip, ankle, and knee joints through the action of the eccentric muscle. Finally, the fluctuation of movement through the extensor muscle operation may be increased.
The major muscles involved during the jump, from the upper and lower limbs and trunk, are; the gastrocnemius, glutes, biceps, hamstring, quadriceps, abdominals, deltoid, trapezius, triceps, and the latissimus dorsal. During the running action, there is flexion of the legs and extension of the arms. After landing, there is the flexion of the leg, and before that, there is an extension of the leg during the flight. Pushing from the ground during the phases between take-off and flight plantar flexion occurs. Finally, for the body to remain balanced for the jump, there is the abduction of the arms (Montgomery & Grabowski, 2018). The joints involved throughout these actions include; hinge joint, ankle joints, elbow joint, hip, and shoulder joints.
Analyzing the Biomechanics of the Long Jump
The four phases involved during the long jump are everything that happens during a long jump. An assessment of these phases individually produces the biomechanical analysis of the jumper. During each phase of the jump, the techniques are used to define the level of performance to expect at the end of the jump. The dashing phase should be ample for the athlete to gain the utmost velocity for the take-off phase. During the take-off phase, the horizontal and vertical velocities can be measured by determining the athlete’s center of mass and the angle at which the athlete takes off. There is no way for the jumper to gain more vertical or horizontal velocity while in the flight phase; gravity is the only force acting against the jumper at this point now. The total distance traveled by the jumper can be calculated once the jumper lands (Fattah & Bataineh, 2020). During the landing phase, the jumper has to stabilize him or herself from the ground reaction force acting against him. To analyze an athlete’s jump, the techniques during the flight and landing can also affect the final performance of the jump.
Training Interventions to Improve Long Jump Performance
To meet the individual needs of an athlete developing specific training programs that consider the athlete’s gender, age, objectives, strengths and weakness, and the available training facilities. Formulating a training pathway for each athlete is important for end performance; the long jump is placed in the event group. This training group consists of competitions that include being able to sprint, have endurance, and throw an object or jumping. A basic annual training program that is suitable for these athletes should include general jump training; more specifically for the long jumper’s is a long jump training program (Ramirez-Campillo et al., 2018). Training is initiated from the development stage of an athlete all through to finding a suitable methodological approach that works better for the athlete within the program.
Conclusion
Long jump involves mastery of the four major phases during the jump, being physically fit, and healthy to perform the best. An athlete being aware of when they have achieved terminal velocity during the dash phase (time) and the point at which (distance) to initiate the take of phase is essential. Besides, the flight phase is about positioning to overcome the only force acting on the athlete (gravity). Eventually, the landing phase is all about getting the most out of the whole travel, flexing the leg muscles to increase the distance covered, and the final performance.
