In Maximum Velocity Early flight, the eccentric knee extension is described as which of the following?

In Maximum Velocity Early flight, the eccentric knee extension is described as which of the following?

• A. Decelerated backward rotation of leg and foot
• B. Accelerated forward rotation of leg
• C. Neutral rotation
• D. Internal rotation

Answer: (A)

During Maximum Velocity Early flight, the leg leaves the ground with momentum that tends to rotate the leg backward. The knee extensors contract eccentrically, lengthening as the knee extends, to brake that backward rotation. This braking action helps control the leg’s swing, keeping it on the proper path for a quick, timed return to ground contact. Why this fits best: the description captures the idea of using eccentric knee extension to slow down and manage the leg’s rotation rather than speeding it up, keeping the limb in a favorable position for the next step. The other ideas don’t match the mechanism here. Accelerated forward rotation would imply speeding the leg’s forward spin, which isn’t the braking action at play. Neutral rotation suggests no change in rotation, which ignores the active control. Internal rotation describes rotation toward the midline, not the backward braking of the leg’s swing that eccentric knee extension provides.

During Maximum Velocity Early flight, the leg leaves the ground with momentum that tends to rotate the leg backward. The knee extensors contract eccentrically, lengthening as the knee extends, to brake that backward rotation. This braking action helps control the leg’s swing, keeping it on the proper path for a quick, timed return to ground contact.

Why this fits best: the description captures the idea of using eccentric knee extension to slow down and manage the leg’s rotation rather than speeding it up, keeping the limb in a favorable position for the next step.

The other ideas don’t match the mechanism here. Accelerated forward rotation would imply speeding the leg’s forward spin, which isn’t the braking action at play. Neutral rotation suggests no change in rotation, which ignores the active control. Internal rotation describes rotation toward the midline, not the backward braking of the leg’s swing that eccentric knee extension provides.