Leg stiffness decreases during a run to exhaustion at the speed at VO2max

Hayes, Phil and Caplan, Nick (2014) Leg stiffness decreases during a run to exhaustion at the speed at VO2max. European Journal of Sport Science, 14 (6). pp. 556-562. ISSN 1746-1391

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

Vertical and leg stiffness are related to running speed. In endurance running, the ability to maintain stiffness might be more important than the absolute stiffness magnitude. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in vertical and leg stiffness during an exhaustive. Six sub-elite runners (24.2, s = 4.2 years; 1.81, s = 0.03 m; 73.4, s = 4.4 kg) participated in this study. They performed preliminary tests to determine lactate threshold, lactate turnpoint, VO2max, sVO2max and a series of isokinetic endurance tests. During the run to exhaustion runners were videoed (50 Hz) to determine contact and flight times, from which leg (Kleg) and vertical (Kvert) stiffness were calculated. During the run Kleg showed a significant decrease [P = 0.030, effect size statistics (ES) = 0.74], however, the decrease in Kvert was non-significant and of a small magnitude (P = 0.051, ES = 0.32). The distance covered during the run was correlated with ΔKleg (r = -0.868) but not ΔKvert (r = 0.684). ΔKleg was very strongly related to Δ ground contact time (r = -0.937) and Δ step length (r = -0.957). The Δ ground contact time had a near perfect relationship with Δ step length (r = 0.995). Isokinetic measures were not significantly correlated with either ΔKleg. The ability to maintain a short ground contact time appears to be a key determinant of maintaining performance during a run to exhaustion. Minimising this is important for maintaining Kleg. Kleg was not significantly related to isokinetic measures.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Running, spring–mass model, fatigue, strength, biomechanics
Subjects:	C600 Sports Science
Department:	Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation
Depositing User:	Ellen Cole
Date Deposited:	13 Feb 2014 16:47
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2019 16:25
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/15399

Downloads