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Looking at the Best Step Length Calculation
Step Length in Centimeters – One can define step length many different ways. The key is to measure it consistently from one race walker to another. We chose to represent the step length as the distance between the point where the toe of the rear foot leaves the ground and the point where the lead foot strikes the ground with the heel. Unfortunately, since no walker measured in this study exhibited a double support phase, the actual step distance required evaluating multiple frames simultaneously. In order to accurately measure the step length, we marked the position where the rear foot leaves the ground and drew a vertical line from that point upward. We took note along this vertical line for some immovable area of the background as our fixed point. We then opened the frame where the race walker’s forward heel contacts the ground. Next, we located our fixed point and drew a vertical line downward. The step length is then the measurement of a horizontal line between the point of heel strike and our previously drawn vertical line. Care is taken that our lines are drawn at a 90 degree angle. This is easily achieved using features of Photoshop to prevent inaccuracies.
i.e.
Erik Tysse’s step length = 852 pixels or 105 cm, see Figures 2-2 & 2-3
 Figure 2-2 |
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