Javelin Throw

The video showcases various top athletes, each demonstrating their unique approach to throwing a javelin. Each athlete employs their distinct technique, tailored to their physical capabilities, which were initially present and further developed through years of training. Broadly speaking, there are certainly commonalities to observe. From an extreme extension to maximum flexion (one-dimensional movement), from maximum rotation to an extreme (and accelerated) opposite rotation. The body functions as one large chain of motion, with all joints coming into action at the right moment, accelerating at the correct pace, and reaching their individual endpoints simultaneously.

From a three-dimensional perspective, we can see that in a right-handed thrower, the right arm is brought to maximum abduction, anteflexion, and exorotation. This arm movement aligns with an extension of the spine, combined with a rotation to the right and a corresponding lateral flexion to the right, a B-typology according to 3DMT. From the hips, a rotation to the left is initiated, with the left leg acting as a fixed point, with or without the knee blocked in (hyper-)extension. The pelvis, sacroiliac joint, and lumbar spine are manipulated into a non-physiological position; an extension, rotation to the left, and a (still present) lateral flexion to the right.

Due to the fixed point of the right leg, and the articulatio coxae on the left, along with the non-physiological position of the pelvis, sacroiliac joint, and lumbar spine, the thoracic spine can accelerate significantly from a B typology to a flexion, combined with a lateral flexion to the right and a conjunct rotation to the left, the A typology. This movement is best compared to a whip; the solid, rigid handle is akin to the fixed point (leg, knee joint, hip joint, pelvis, sacroiliac joint, and lumbar spine), and the flexible end can be compared to the mobile point (thoracic spine, shoulder complex, elbow, wrist, and hand).

However, despite the general guidelines followed in teaching throwing technique, there are individual nuances in an athlete's execution of a throw. Every right-handed thrower begins in a B position and eventually transitions to an A position, but not every starting position is the same. Within the B quadrant, there are numerous (individual) possibilities, and the transformation to an A position can be executed in many ways. Nevertheless, observing from a three-dimensional perspective provides a wealth of information and insights to make improvements.