Int J Sports Med 2012; 33(10): 819-823
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1311588
Orthopedics & Biomechanics
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Uphill Running at Iso-Efficiency Speed

J. Padulo
1   Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
2   CONI – Italian Regional Olympic Committee, Sardinia, Cagliari, Italy
,
G. Annino
1   Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
,
L. Smith
3   School of Health, Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Salford, United Kingdom
,
G. M. Migliaccio
2   CONI – Italian Regional Olympic Committee, Sardinia, Cagliari, Italy
,
R. Camino
2   CONI – Italian Regional Olympic Committee, Sardinia, Cagliari, Italy
,
J. Tihanyi
4   Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport ­Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
,
S. D’Ottavio
1   Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 29 February 2012

Publication Date:
04 May 2012 (online)

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.

 
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