Lower-body determinants of running economy in male and female distance runners

Date
2014
Authors
Barnes, KR
McGuigan, MR
Kilding, AE
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Abstract

A variety of training approaches have been shown to improve running economy in well-trained athletes. However, there is a paucity of data exploring lower-body determinants that may affect running economy and account for differences that may exist between genders. Sixty-three male and female distance runners were assessed in the laboratory for a range of metabolic, biomechanical, and neuromuscular measures potentially related to running economy (mlmin21) at a range of running speeds. At all common test velocities, women were more economical than men (effect size [ES] = 0.40); however, when compared in terms of relative intensity, men had better running economy (ES = 2.41). Leg stiffness (r = 20.80) and moment arm length (r = 0.90) were large-extremely largely correlated with running economy and each other (r = 20.82). Correlations between running economy and kinetic measures (peak force, peak power, and time to peak force) for both genders were unclear. The relationship in stride rate (r = 20.27 to 20.31) was in the opposite direction to that of stride length (r = 0.32–0.49), and the relationship in contact time (r = 20.21 to 20.54) was opposite of that of flight time (r = 0.06–0.74). Although both leg stiffness and moment arm length are highly related to running economy, it seems that no single lower-body measure can completely explain differences in running economy between individuals or genders. Running economy is therefore likely determined from the sum of influences from multiple lower-body attributes.

Description
Keywords
Running economy , Neuromuscular characteristics , Stiffness , Moment arm , Biomechanics , Running
Source
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol.28(5), pp.1289 - 1297
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