Mechanical Alterations during 800-m Self-Paced Track Running

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

• References

• 1 Abbiss CR, Peiffer JJ, Meeusen R, Skorski S. Role of ratings of perceived exertion during self-paced exercise: what are we actually measuring?. Sports Med 2015; 45: 1235-1243
• 2 Ansley L, Robson St PJ, Clair Gibson A, Noakes TD. Anticipatory pacing strategies during supramaximal exercise lasting longer than 30 s. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2004; 36: 309-314
• 3 Arampatzis A, Brüggemann GP, Metzler V. The effect of speed on leg stiffness and joint kinetics in human running. J Biomech 1999; 32: 1349-1353
• 4 Bartlett JL, Sumner B, Ellis RG, Kram R. Activity and functions of the human gluteal muscles in walking, running, sprinting, and climbing. Am J Phys Anthropol 2014; 153: 124-131
• 5 Brughelli M, Cronin J, Chaouachi A. Effects of running velocity on running kinetics and kinematics. J Strength Cond Res 2011; 25: 933-939
• 6 Cavagna GA, Legramandi MA, Peyré-Tartaruga LA. Old men running: mechanical work and elastic bounce. Proc R Soc B 2008; 275: 411-418
• 7 Clark KP, Weyand PG. Are running speeds maximized with simple- spring stance mechanics?. J Appl Physiol 2014; 117: 604-615
• 8 Cohen J. Statistical Power analysis for the behavioral sciences. 2^nd ed. Erlbaum; Hillsdale, NJ: 1988
• 9 Coleman DR, Cannavan D, Horne S, Blazevich AJ. Leg stiffness in human running: comparison of estimates derived from previously published models to direct kinematic–kinetic measures. J Biomech 2012; 45: 1987-1991
• 10 Crowell HP, Davis IS. Gait retraining to reduce lower extremity loading in runners. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2011; 26: 78-83
• 11 Duffield R, Bishop D, Dawson B. Comparison of the VO₂ response to 800-m, 1500-m and 3000-m track running events. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2006; 46: 353-360
• 12 Farley CT, Houdijk HH, Van Strien C, Louie M. Mechanism of leg stiffness adjustment for hopping on surfaces of different stiffnesses. J Appl Physiol 1998; 85: 1044-1055
• 13 Farley CT, Morgenroth DC. Leg stiffness primarily depends on ankle stiffness during human hopping. J Biomech 1999; 32: 267-273
• 14 Finni T, Kyröläinen H, Avela J, Komi PV. Maximal but not submaximal performance is reduced by constant-speed 10 km run. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2003; 43: 411-417
• 15 Foster C, De Koning JJ, Hettinga F, Lampen J, La Clair KL, Dodge C, Bobbert M, Porcari JP. Pattern of energy expenditure during simulated competition. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2003; 35: 826-831
• 16 Fourchet F, Girard O, Kelly L, Horobeanu C, Millet GP. Changes in leg spring behaviour, plantar loading and foot mobility magnitude induced by an exhaustive treadmill run in adolescent middle-distance runners. J Sci Med Sport 2015; 18: 199-203
• 17 Giandolini M, Arnal PJ, Milley GY, Peyrot N, Samozino P, Dubois B, Morin JB. Impact reduction during running: efficiency of simple acute interventions in recreational runners. Eur J Appl Physiol 2013; 113: 599-609
• 18 Girard O, Micallef J-P, Millet GP. Changes in spring-mass model characteristics during repeated running sprints. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 125-134
• 19 Girard O, Micallef JP, Millet GP, Racinais S. Alteration in neuromuscular function after a 5 km running time trial. Eur J Appl Physiol 2012; 112: 2323-2330
• 20 Girard O, Millet GP, Slawinski J, Racinais S, Micallef JP. Changes in running mechanics and spring-mass behavior during a 5-km time trial. Int J Sports Med 2013; 34: 832-840
• 21 Hanon C, Thomas C. Effects of optimal pacing strategies for 400-, 800-, and 1500-m races on the VO₂ response. J Sports Sci 2011; 29: 905-912
• 22 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2016 update. Int J Sports Med 2015; 36: 1021-1024
• 23 Hobara H, Inoue K, Gomi K, Sakamoto M, Muraoka T, Iso S, Kanosue K. Continuous change in spring-mass characteristics during a 400 m sprint. J Sci Med Sport 2010; 13: 256-261
• 24 Ingham SA, Whyte GP, Pedlar C, Bailey DM, Dunman N, Nevill AM. Determinants of 800-m and 1500-m running performance using allometric models. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008; 40: 345-350
• 25 Lacour J-R, Bouvat E, Barthélémy JC. Post-competition blood lactate concentrations as indicators of anaerobic energy expenditure during 400-m and 800-m races. Eur J Appl Physiol 1990; 61: 172-176
• 26 Le Meur Y, Dorel S, Rabita G, Bernard T, Brisswalter J, Hausswirth C. Spring-mass behavior and electromyographic activity evolution during a cycle-run test to exhaustion in triathletes. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2012; 22: 835-844
• 27 McMahon TA, Cheng GC. The mechanics of running: how does stiffness couple with speed?. J Biomech 1990; 23: 65-78
• 28 Morin J-B, Dalleau G, Kyrölainen H, Jeannin T, Belli A. A simple method for measuring stiffness during running. J Appl Biomech 2005; 21: 167-180
• 29 Morin J-B, Jeannin T, Chevallier B, Belli A. Spring-mass model characteristics during sprint running: correlation with performance and fatigue-induced changes. Int J Sports Med 2006; 27: 158-165
• 30 Morin J-B, Tomazin K, Edouard P, Millet GY. Changes in running mechanics and spring-mass behavior induced by a mountain ultra-marathon race. J Biomech 2011; 44: 1104-1107
• 31 Moore IS. Is there an economical running technique? A review of modifiable biomechanical factors affecting running economy. Sports Med 2016; 46: 793-807
• 32 Napier C, Cochrane CK, Taunton JE, Hunt MA. Gait modifications to change lower extremity gait biomechanics in runners: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med 2015; 49: 1382-1388
• 33 Nummela A, Keränen T, Mikkelsson LO. Factors related to top running speed and economy. Int J Sports Med 2007; 28: 655-661
• 34 Pappas P, Paradisis G, Tsolakis C, Smirniotou A, Morin JB. Reliabilities of leg and vertical stiffness during treadmill running. Sports Biomech 2014; 13: 391-399
• 35 Rabita G, Slawinski J, Girard O, Bignet F, Hausswirth C. Spring-mass behavior during exhaustive run at constant velocity in elite triathletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011; 4: 685-692
• 36 Rabita G, Couturier A, Dorel S, Hausswirth C, Le Meur Y. Changes in spring–mass behavior and muscle activity during an exhaustive run at VO_2max . J Biomech 2013; 46: 2011-2017
• 37 Riley PO, Dicharry J, Franz J, Della Croce U, Wilder RP, Kerrigan DC. A kinematics and kinetic comparison of overground and treadmill running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008; 40: 1093-1100
• 38 Saraslanidis PJ, Panoutsakopoulos V, Tsalis G, Kyprianou A. The effect of different first 200-m pacing strategies on blood lactate and biomechanical parameters of the 400-m sprint. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 1579-1590
• 39 Schache AG, Dorn TW, Williams GP, Brown NA, Pandy MG. Lower-limb muscular strategies for increasing running speed. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2014; 44: 813-824
• 40 Slawinski J, Heubert R, Quievre J, Billat V, Hanon C. Changes in spring-mass model parameters and energy cost during track running to exhaustion. J Strength Cond Res 2008; 22: 930-936
• 41 Thomas C, Hanon C, Perrey S, Le Chevalier J-M, Couturier A, Vandewalle H. Oxygen uptake response to an 800-m running race. Int J Sports Med 2005; 26: 268-273
• 42 Tucker R, Lambert MI, Noakes TD. An analysis of pacing strategies during men's world-record performances in track athletics. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2006; 1: 233-245
• 43 Willy RW, Buchenic L, Rogacki K, Ackerman J, Schmidt A, Willson JD. In-field gait retraining and mobile monitoring to address running biomechanics associated with tibial stress fracture. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2016; 26: 197-205
• 44 Zadpoor AA, Nikooyan AA. The effects of lower-extremity muscle fatigue on the vertical ground reaction force: A meta-analysis. Proc IMechE Part H: J Engineering in Medicine 2012; 226: 579-588