Influence of the biomechanical variables of the gait cycle in running economy

  1. Santos Concejero, Jordan
  2. Granados Domínguez, Cristina
  3. Irazusta Astiazaran, Jon
  4. Bidaurrazaga López de Letona, Iraia
  5. Zabala Lili, Jon
  6. Tam, N
  7. Gil Orozko, Susana María
Journal:
RICYDE. Revista Internacional de Ciencias del Deporte

ISSN: 1885-3137

Year of publication: 2014

Volume: 10

Issue: 36

Pages: 95-108

Type: Article

DOI: 10.5232/RICYDE2014.03601 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openDialnet editor

More publications in: RICYDE. Revista Internacional de Ciencias del Deporte

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between biomechanical variables and running economy (RE). Eleven recreational (RR) and 14 well-trained runners (WT) completed 4 min stages on a treadmill at different speeds. During the test, biomechanical variables such as ground contact time (tc), swing time (tsw), stride length, frequency and angle and the length of the different subphases of ground contact were calculated using an optical measurement system. VO2 was measured in order to calculate RE. The WT runners were more economical than the RR at all speeds and presented lower tc, higher tsw, longer strides, lower stride frequencies and higher stride angles (P<0.05). Similarly, the WT runners experienced a later propulsion subphase than the RR runners (P<0.05). RE was positively related to tc, stride frequency and 10-km race pace, whereas it was negatively related to tsw, stride length, stride angle and the propulsive subphase. Our results suggest that running patterns characterized by longer stride lengths and higher stride angles, lower stride frequencies and tc, higher tsw and later propulsion suphases may enable an efficient energy use per stride.

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