Spring Energie Stepwellness - Technical Report

This report considers the various points of observation on the behavior of subjects on two different types of steps.

Step traditional, rigid, and the springy step called "Spring Energy.

The analysis was conducted with two experienced players making a series of tests of different kinds. In a first session in a laboratory of physiology of sport, were measured during the execution of some steps on the two tools, heart rate and oxygen consumption.

In subsequent sessions, subjects were taken to a motion analysis laboratory where measures were taken during both steps with the gear in both pre-and post-test trials.

Overall, the measurements made on subjects and then processed variables are:

oxygen consumption;
consumption of carbon dioxide, pulmonary ventilation, energy consumption (METs)
heartbeats
vertical forces on the ground;
in steps, test of walking and jump tests
trajectories;
sagittal plane of the right knee and right ankle in steps;
angles of right knee and right ankle in steps

With the observed data was then conducted to compare methods of use of two tools from the two subjects and to assess any risks or benefits for one or other of the tools used.

The analysis of results leads to the following conclusions:

The use of any step to the beat (134 bpm) implies a commitment of energy that ranges from a minimum of about 9 to a maximum of about 16 METs.

Using the "springy step" you can achieve a consumption of oxygen (or energy expenditure) greater than with a step drive. In some subjects the heart rate is also significantly higher compared to the use of the Spring Energie step.
The execution time of steps and the distribution of time between support and flight, the use of two different tools, are equal in all conditions.

Compared to step disk with the Spring Energie players, descending from the tool during the execution of a step (go on), better cushion the impact with the ground, that is reflected, at first contact with the ground, less vertical force . The expression pattern of vertical force during a gait support is amended by the use of the Spring Energie; the subject absorbs more elastic energy impact and then distributes it throughout the support.

Observed during the execution of various steps with the two different tools, the angles at the knee and ankle highlight differences localized.

A significant result is the aftereffect observed in the Gail test, which is known as the vertical pressure in a step changes significantly by the use of Spring Energie. This implies an adjustment not only purely muscular, but also of motor strategies, and inevitably shape the movement.

The elasticity of Spring Energie therefore stimulate adaptations to remodel the vertical thrust to the ground during a walking pace in more elastic.

Observation of the trajectory in the horizontal plane of the knee of the limb used in the passage called "basic" it will be noticed how, with the traditional step, the inversion of the trajectory is realized with a sharp change of direction, producing a hard edge engines absorption for the structures of the knee itself, while at the same step performed on Spring Energie reversal of the trajectory change of direction is achieved with much more safely.

The direct consequence is that with the Spring Energie tend to avoid peak loads on the joints.