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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
The Biomechanical Characteristics of the Strongman Yoke Walk
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Vol.3, pp.1-670297
2021
PMID: 33981993
Abstract
The yoke walk is a popular strongman exercise where athletes carry a heavily loaded frame balanced across the back of their shoulders over a set distance as quickly as possible. The aim of this study was to use ecologically realistic training loads and carry distances to (1) establish the preliminary biomechanical characteristics of the yoke walk; (2) identify any biomechanical differences between male and female athletes performing the yoke walk; and (3) determine spatiotemporal and kinematic differences between stages (intervals) of the yoke walk. Kinematic and spatiotemporal measures of hip and knee joint angle, and mean velocity, stride length, stride rate and stance duration of each 5 m interval were taken whilst 19 strongman athletes performed three sets of a 20 m yoke walk at 85% of their pre-determined 20 m yoke walk one repetition maximum. The yoke walk was characterised by flexion of the hip and slight to neutral flexion of the knee at heel strike, slight to neutral extension of the hip and flexion of the knee at toe-off and moderate hip and knee range of motion (ROM), with high stride rate and stance duration, and short stride length. Between-interval comparisons revealed increased stride length, stride rate and lower limb ROM, and decreased stance duration at greater velocity. Although no main between-sex differences were observed, two-way interactions revealed female athletes exhibited greater knee extension at toe-off and reduced hip ROM during the initial (0–5 m) when compared with the final three intervals (5–20 m), and covered a greater distance before reaching maximal normalised stride length than males. The findings from this study may better inform strongman coaches, athletes and strength and conditioning coaches with the biomechanical knowledge to: provide athletes with recommendation on how to perform the yoke walk based on the technique used by experienced strongman athletes; better prescribe exercises to target training adaptations required for improved yoke walk performance; and better coach the yoke walk as a training tool for non-strongman athletes.
Details
- Title
- The Biomechanical Characteristics of the Strongman Yoke Walk
- Authors
- Benjamin R Hindle (Author) - Bond UniversityAnna Lorimer (Author) - Bond UniversityPaul Winwood (Author) - Auckland University of TechnologyDaniel Brimm (Author) - The University of QueenslandJustin W. L Keogh (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Publication details
- Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Vol.3, pp.1-670297
- Publisher
- Frontiers Research Foundation
- Date published
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.3389/fspor.2021.670297
- ISSN
- 2624-9367
- PMID
- 33981993
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2021 Hindle, Lorimer, Winwood, Brimm and Keogh. 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) and the copyright owner(s) 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.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99582608602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Sport Sciences