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Since the prostheses are not powered machines and they don't give
back more than you put in, and I believe less than what a muscle can
do, I see no problem. The only real advantage is that they make the
athlete relatively lighter. I suppose the same would be true for an
upper-body amputee. Should we also deny them participation?
There is an IAAF rule that prohibits "springs" in shoes (see below)
This situation must fall into that category. That rule is very old
and probably was ill-conceived. It seems that springs are now built
into the track as compared to the old cinder tracks that essential
could not return energy. At least with tracks everyone gets the same advantage.
Here is the rule as of 2004.
Shoes
2. Athletes may compete barefoot or with footwear on one or both
feet. The purpose of shoes for competition is to give protection and
stability to the feet and a firm grip on the ground. Such shoes,
however, must not be constructed so as to give an athlete any
additional assistance, and no spring or device of any kind may be
incorporated in the shoes. A shoe strap over the instep is permitted.
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D. Gordon E. Robertson, PhD, FCSB
Professor of Biomechanics
School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
Email: dger@uOttawa.ca
Phone: +1-613-562-5800 Office: 4253 Lab.: 4246
Fax: +1-613-562-5149
Webpage: http://www.health.uottawa.ca/biomech/lab
Personal: http://myprofile.cos.com/dger
back more than you put in, and I believe less than what a muscle can
do, I see no problem. The only real advantage is that they make the
athlete relatively lighter. I suppose the same would be true for an
upper-body amputee. Should we also deny them participation?
There is an IAAF rule that prohibits "springs" in shoes (see below)
This situation must fall into that category. That rule is very old
and probably was ill-conceived. It seems that springs are now built
into the track as compared to the old cinder tracks that essential
could not return energy. At least with tracks everyone gets the same advantage.
Here is the rule as of 2004.
Shoes
2. Athletes may compete barefoot or with footwear on one or both
feet. The purpose of shoes for competition is to give protection and
stability to the feet and a firm grip on the ground. Such shoes,
however, must not be constructed so as to give an athlete any
additional assistance, and no spring or device of any kind may be
incorporated in the shoes. A shoe strap over the instep is permitted.
-----
D. Gordon E. Robertson, PhD, FCSB
Professor of Biomechanics
School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
Email: dger@uOttawa.ca
Phone: +1-613-562-5800 Office: 4253 Lab.: 4246
Fax: +1-613-562-5149
Webpage: http://www.health.uottawa.ca/biomech/lab
Personal: http://myprofile.cos.com/dger