Supertraining

Ken Jakalski kindly sent me the below article:

The scientific team was asked to evaluate the IAAF's initial claim
that the Cheetah Flex-Foot prostheses (J-shaped, high-performance
prostheses used for running) worn by Pistorius give him an advantage
over able-bodied runners. The team concluded that the scientific
evidence put forth by the IAAF investigation to ban Pistorius was
fundamentally flawed. "While an athlete's performance in sprints of
very short duration is determined almost entirely by mechanical
factors, in races of longer duration, such as the 400m, performance
depends on both mechanical and metabolic factors," said Herr, a
bilateral amputee who heads the MIT Media Lab's Biomechatronics
research group.

Based on this performance link, the scientists refuted the IAAF
findings on two major points: the speed-duration relationship and
rates of metabolic energy expenditure.

Specifically, the scientists concluded that:

. Pistorius' ability to maintain speed over the course of longer
sprints--his speed-duration relationship--is essentially identical to
that of able-bodied runners, indicating that he fatigues in the same
manner as able-bodied sprinters.

 . Pistorius' rates of metabolic energy expenditure do not differ
from elite non-amputee runners. In particular, he has nearly the same
running economy, or rate of oxygen consumption at submaximal speeds,
and a similar maximal rate of oxygen consumption as elite non-amputee
runners.

John Casler writes:

While I am not informed enough to have an opinion on the "equality" over all 
competitors, I might wonder or question the assertion of "metabolic" 
advantage.

I, for over 20 years have used "stair climbing" as a great Cardio 
Stimulating activity, and regularly do so.

During this period I have explored many climbing and descending experiments 
to compete with myself and become faster.

It didn't take too long for me to find that climbing on my "toes" caused a 
greater blood flow to my calves.  This then when viewed logically suggested 
several things:

1) The blood flow to the calves was significant.
2) The distance the blood was pumped was far greater from the heart, and 
surely offered greater stress
3) The circulatory efficiency of supplying blood both TO and FROM the calves 
was a greater stress due to the "Cul de Sac" system.

In light of this, I adjusted my form to step deep into the step itself and 
land on the heel, reducing calf involvement.  This then reduced blood 
requirement for the area.  Additionally I pushed off with the heel, causing 
even greater hip and ham involvement.

The proximity of the glutes and hams to the heart to both supply and return 
blood was far less stressful and my times steadily improved.

Now while this certainly doesn't suggest that metabolic requirements are 
small, it does offer an interesting question as to if the shorter and more 
direct blood flow can offer metabolic advantage.

While I might suggest it "does", I might also say that I can see no viable 
method of establishing the scope of the advantage, considering the 
disadvantages contained in the disability itself.

However, it is interesting none the less.

I think this will be one "large story" of the upcoming OLYMPICS.  Good or 
Bad, the Press will love this.

Regards,

John Casler
TRI-VECTOR 3-D Force Systems
Century City, CA