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Int J Sports Med 2017; 38(04): 314-321
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-121262
Orthopedics & Biomechanics
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Mechanical Alterations during 800-m Self-Paced Track Running

Olivier Girard
1   Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, ASPETAR – Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
2   ISSUL, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
,
Gregoire P. Millet
2   ISSUL, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
,
Jean-Paul Micallef
3   Faculty of Sport Sciences, Movement to Health (M2H), University of Montpellier 1, EuroMov, Montpellier, France
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 27 October 2016

Publication Date:
01 March 2017 (online)

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Abstract

We assessed the time course of running mechanical alterations during an 800-m. On a 200-m indoor track, 18 physical education students performed an 800-m self-paced run. Once per lap, ground reaction forces were measured by a 5-m-long force platform system, and used to determine running kinetics/kinematics and spring-mass characteristics. Compared with 100 m (19.4±1.8 km.h−1) running velocity progressively decreased at 300, 500 m but levelled-off at 700 m marks (−5.7±4.6, −10.4±8.3, and −9.1±13.5%, respectively; P<0.001). Stride length (−8.5±2.3%, P<0.01) and frequency (−1.0±1.5%, P=0.05) along with peak braking (−7.5±4.4%, P<0.05) and push-off forces (−5.1±7.2%, P<0.05) decreased from 100 m to 700 m. Peak vertical forces (−3.0±2.7%; P>0.05) and leg compression (+2.8±3.9%; P>0.05) remained unchanged, whereas centre of mass vertical displacement (+24.0±7.0%; P<0.001) increased during the run. Vertical stiffness decreased (−18.1±4.4%; P<0.001), whereas leg stiffness was unchanged (−3.2±4.6%; P>0.05). During an 800 m by physical education students, highest running velocity was achieved early during the run, with a progressive decrease in the second half of the trial. While vertical ground force characteristics remained unchanged, non-specialist runners produced lower peak braking and push-off forces, in turn leading to shorter stride length. Spring-mass model characteristics changed toward lower vertical stiffness values, whereas leg stiffness did not change.

Key words

leg spring behaviour - stride parameters - stiffness - pacing strategy - middle distance running
 

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