Uphill Running at Iso-Efficiency Speed

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of slopes (0%, 2% and 7%) on temporal gait kinematics during running at iso-efficiency speed (IES). 65 male marathon runners were selected for this study. A single digital camera (210 Hz) was used to record motion; Dartfish5.5Pro was used to perform 2-dimensional (2D) video analysis and heart rate was recorded during the test. The parameters considered in this study were: step length (SL), flight time (FT), step frequency (SF), contact time (CT) and heart rate (HR). The results showed SL, FT and SF decreased as a result of the increasing treadmill gradient; SL=[(0–2%=8.38%, p<0.0001), (0–7%=23.61%, p<0.0001)]; FT=[(0–2%=8.92%, p<0.02), (0–7%=23.40%, p<0.0001)]; SF=[(0–2%=1.18%), (0–7%=4.02%, p<0.001)]. The CT and HR however increased with the increasing gradient CT=[(0–2%=9.06% p<0.0001), (0–7%=25.64%, p<0.0001)]; HR=[(0–2%=1.65%), (0–7%=3.58%)]. These results show a different trend of the footstep’s kinematic parameters when running on a slope at IES. Moreover, we can calculate the optimal run speed on a slope without increasing the metabolic demand.

Key words

running on slope - kinematics - energetic cost

• References

• 1 Belli A, Rey S, Bonnefoy R, Lacour JR. A simple device for kinematic measurements of human movement. Ergonomics 1992; 35: 177-186
• 2 Cavagna GA, Thys H, Zamboni A. The sources of external work in level walking and running. J Physiol 1976; 262: 639-657
• 3 Di Prampero PE. The energy cost of human locomotion on land and in water. Int J Sports Med 1986; 7: 55-72
• 4 Di Prampero PE, Capelli C, Pagliaro P, Antonutto G, Girardis M, Zamparo P, Soule RG. Energetics of best performances in middle-distance running. J Appl Physiol 1993; 74: 2318-2324
• 5 Duchateau J, Hainaut K. Isometric or dynamic training: differential effects on mechanical properties of a human muscle. J Appl Physiol 1984; 56: 296-301
• 6 Gottschall JS, Kram R. Ground reaction forces during downhill and uphill running. J Biomech 2005; 38: 445-452
• 7 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Update – ethical standards in sport and exercise science research. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 819-821
• 8 Hopkins WG. Quantification of training in competitive sports – Methods and applications. Sports Med 1991; 12: 161-183
• 9 Iversen JR, McMahon TA. Running on an incline. J Biomech Eng 1992; 114: 435-441
• 10 Menier DR, Pugh LG. The relation of oxygen intake and velocity of walking and running in competition walkers. J Physiol 1968; 197: 717-721
• 11 Minetti AE, Ardigo LP, Saibene F. Mechanical determinants of the minimum energy cost of gradient running in humans. J Exp Biol 1994; 195: 211-225
• 12 Minetti AE, Ardigo LP, Saibene F. The transition between walking and running in humans: metabolic and mechanical aspects at different gradients. Acta Physiol Scand 1994; 150: 315-323
• 13 Minetti AE, Moia C, Roi GS, Susta D, Ferretti G. Energy cost of walking and running at extreme uphill and downhill slopes. J Appl Physiol 2002; 93: 1039-1046
• 14 Owings TM, Grabiner MD. Measuring step kinematic variability on an instrumented treadmill: how many steps are enough?. J Biomech 2003; 36: 1215-1218
• 15 Padulo J, D’Ottavio S, Pizzolato F, Smith L, Annino G. Kinematic analysis of soccer players in shuttle running. Int J Sports Med 2012; [Epub ahead of print]
• 16 Padulo J, Annino G, Migliaccio GM, D’Ottavio S, Tihanyi J. Kinematics of running at different slopes and speeds. J Strength Cond Res 2011; [Epub ahead of print]
• 17 Paradisis GP, Bissas A, Cooke CB. Combined uphill and downhill sprint running training is more efficacious than horizontal. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2009; 4: 229-243
• 18 Riley PO, Dicharry J, Franz J, Della CU, Wilder RP, Kerrigan DC. A kinematics and kinetic comparison of overground and treadmill running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008; 40: 1093-1100
• 19 Staab JS, Agnew JW, Siconolfi SF. Metabolic and performance responses to uphill and downhill running in distance runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1992; 24: 124-127