Mark Connick

Mark Connick

Sports Performance Consultant & postdoctoral research fellow @ QUT

Posts

2025

Propulsive Force Deterioration and the deceleration phase of sprinting

4 minute read

Published:

Understanding the mechanics of sprinting across the acceleration, constant velocity and deceleration phases is an important step towards developing strategies for enhancing performance. In sprinting research, a greater emphasis is usually put on acceleration and maximum velocity. The deceleration phase is sometimes overlooked, despite its crucial role in race outcomes. In close finishes, the ability to maintain speed through the final metres can be decisive, as seen in the men’s 400m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics and in several 100m Diamond League races, such as those in London and Rome. A recent study published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport presents an original perspective on a key variable influencing the deceleration phase. The research introduces a metric called the rate of propulsive force deterioration (PFD) and explores its relationship with maximum velocity, deceleration rate, and finishing speed. You can read the full article here.

Breaking Barriers: Performance-Focused Sport Can Reduce Motor Decline in Young People with Cerebral Palsy

3 minute read

Published:

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disorder in children and, for the most part, young people with CPHSN (Cerebral Palsy with High Support Needs) typically experience worsening motor function over time. Limited physical activity is often associated with this downward trajectory, reinforcing the narrative that the decline in function is inevitable. However, our recently published study, which was led by Dr Iain Dutia and linked here, challenges this narrative, demonstrating that performance-focused swimming training can not only prevent decline in motor function but may perhaps actively improve it.

Optimizing Running Economy Through Footwear: A New Theoretical Framework

5 minute read

Published:

This article examines a paper published in the Journal of Applied Biomechanics. You can find the paper here. Before delving into the framework, it’s helpful to first outline the key concepts of running economy, the spring-mass model, and advanced footwear technologies.