Lower Leg Length is Associated with Running Economy in High Level Caucasian Distance Runners

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to investigate lower limb anthropometric and composition variables related to running economy (RE) and running performance in a homogeneous group of high level European distance runners. RE at the speeds of 14, 16 and 18 km·h−1 (189 ± 12; 188 ± 11; 187 ± 11 O2 ml·kg−1·km−1) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (67.3 ± 2.9 ml·kg−1·min−1) of 13 high level distance runners were determined on a motorised treadmill. Anthropometric variables and body composition were measured. The BMI was related to RE at the speed of 14 (r2 = 0.434; p = 0.014), 16 (r2 = 0.436; p = 0.014) and 18 km·h−1 (r2 = 0.389; p = 0.023). Lower leg length was negatively related to RE at the speed of 16 and showed such a tendency at the speed of 14 and 18 km·h−1. VO2max indicated a moderate relationship with RE at the speeds of 14, 16 and 18 km·h−1 (r2 = 0.372, p = 0.030; r2 = 0.350, p = 0.033; r2 = 0.376, p = 0.026, respectively) which was confirmed by subsequent partial correlation analysis. While lower leg length and the BMI presented a relationship with RE, none of the calculated body composition and anthropometric proportions were related to RE or performance. The relationship between RE and VO2max would confirm the notion that RE could be at least partly compensated by VO2max to achieve high performance results.

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Strategic orientations, knowledge management (KM) and business performance

Kybernetes ◽

10.1108/k-05-2018-0277 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (9) ◽

pp. 1942-1964 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mona Jami Pour ◽

Mohammad Asarian

Keyword(s):

Cluster Analysis ◽

Knowledge Management ◽

Business Performance ◽

High Performance ◽

Strategic Orientation ◽

Content Type ◽

Strategic Orientations ◽

Strategy Performance ◽

High Level ◽

The Relationship

Purpose Despite the huge amount of studies that have investigated the strategy–performance relationships and knowledge management (KM)–performance relationships, there is little consensus regarding the nature of these connections. By reviewing related literature, some notable limitations and inconsistent results are highlighted in extant studies. To address these challenges, this study aims to explore the effects of strategic orientation and KM mechanisms on business performance. Design/methodology/approach The study conducted an empirical investigation of 227 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to explore the relationship between strategy−performance and KM−performance. Business strategy is conceptualized as a comparative construct with six dimensions, KM is conceptualized by two types of KM mechanisms of technical and non-technical KM mechanisms and business performance is measured by four dimensions of balanced scorecard (BSC). The cluster analysis was used to explore different aspects of these three constructs. Findings Using cluster analysis, the results indicate that firms with high level of analysis, defensiveness, futurity and proactiveness in strategic orientation have better performance and also the high level of both KM mechanisms another important finding shows that firms with more KM mechanisms have high performance and technical mechanisms have more predictor role on performance. Practical implications This research also has prescriptive implications for strategic managers and KM practitioners. The finding enhanced the understanding of the relationship between strategic orientations, KM and performance. The results assist managers to assess business performance regarding strategic orientations and KM mechanisms of the firms. Therefore, it helps firms to improve strategic resource allocation and exploit KM investment by considering ideal pattern of the performance. Originality/value By reviewing strategic management and KM literature, it is revealed that there are little studies about how the interaction of strategic orientation and KM influences business performance. The main contribution of the study is exploring the profile of the firms by considering their strategic orientation and KM mechanisms and their impact on business performance. This study provides an empirical evidence about interaction of strategic orientations, KM mechanisms and business performance in SME context, which is merely investigated in previous researches.

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Lower-Leg Compression, Running Mechanics, and Economy in Trained Distance Runners

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2014-0003 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 76-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Abigail S.L. Stickford ◽

Robert F. Chapman ◽

Jeanne D. Johnston ◽

Joel M. Stager

Keyword(s):

Step Length ◽

Lower Leg ◽

Running Economy ◽

Treadmill Running ◽

Individual Response ◽

Distance Runners ◽

Step Frequency ◽

Time Step ◽

The Individual ◽

Running Mechanics

The efficacy of and mechanisms behind the widespread use of lower-leg compression as an ergogenic aid to improve running performance are unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine whether wearing graduated lower-leg compression sleeves during exercise evokes changes in running economy (RE), perhaps due to altered gait mechanics. Sixteen highly trained male distance runners completed 2 separate RE tests during a single laboratory session, including a randomized-treatment trial of graduated calf-compression sleeves (CS; 15–20 mm Hg) and a control trial (CON) without compression sleeves. RE was determined by measuring oxygen consumption at 3 constant submaximal speeds of 233, 268, and 300 m/min on a treadmill. Running mechanics were measured during the last 30 s of each 4-min stage of the RE test via wireless triaxial 10-g accelerometer devices attached to the top of each shoe. Ground-contact time, swing time, step frequency, and step length were determined from accelerometric output corresponding to foot-strike and toe-off events. Gait variability was calculated as the standard deviation of a given gait variable for an individual during the last 30 s of each stage. There were no differences in VO2 or kinematic variables between CON and CS trials at any of the speeds. Wearing lower-leg compression does not alter the energetics of running at submaximal speeds through changes in running mechanics or other means. However, it appears that the individual response to wearing lower-leg compression varies greatly and warrants further examination.

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Relationships Between Leg Body Composition and Mass Distribution to Running Economy in Male Distance Runners.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000487991.06669.59 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 48 ◽

pp. 995

Author(s):

Allie R. Zambito ◽

James M. Smoliga

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Mass Distribution ◽

Running Economy ◽

Distance Runners

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Assessment of Body Composition and Sport Performance of Brazilian Paralympic Swim Team Athletes

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2015-0036 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 364-370 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Radamés M.V. Medeiros ◽

Eduardo S. Alves ◽

Valdir A. Lemos ◽

Paulo A. Schwingel ◽

Andressa da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Fat Mass ◽

High Performance ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Sport Performance ◽

Fat Percentage ◽

Reduced Fat ◽

And Performance ◽

The Relationship

Context:Body-composition assessments of high-performance athletes are very important for identifying physical performance potential. Although the relationship between the kinanthropometric characteristics and performance abilities of Olympic swimmers is extremely important, this subject is not completely understood for Paralympic swimmers.Objective:To investigate the relationship between body composition and sport performance in Brazilian Paralympic swimmers 6 mo after training.Design:Experimental pre/posttest design.Setting:Research laboratory and field evaluations of swimming were conducted to verify the 50-m freestyle time of each athlete.Participants:17 Brazilian Paralympic swim team athletes (12 men, 5 women).Main Outcome Measures:Body-composition assessments were performed using a BOD POD, and swimming performance was assessed using the 50-m freestyle, which was performed twice: before and after 6 mo of training.Results:Increased lean mass and significantly reduced relative fat mass and swimming time (P < .05) were observed 6 mo after training. Furthermore, a positive correlation between body-fat percentage and performance (r = .66, P < .05) was observed, but there was no significant correlation between body density and performance (r = –.14, P > .05).Conclusions:After a 6-mo training period, Paralympic swimmers presented reduced fat mass and increased lean body mass associated with performance, as measured by 50-m freestyle time. These data suggest that reduced fat-mass percentage was significantly correlated with improved swimming performance in Paralympic athletes.

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The Relationship Between Running Economy And Maximal Oxygen Uptake In Trained Adolescent Female Distance Runners

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/00005768-200505001-00114 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 37 (Supplement) ◽

pp. S16

Author(s):

Megan E. Woodruff ◽

Andrew S. Cole ◽

Anthony D. Mahon ◽

Mary P. Horn

Keyword(s):

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Maximal Oxygen Uptake ◽

Running Economy ◽

Adolescent Female ◽

Distance Runners ◽

The Relationship

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Parallel and Distributed Data Mining through Parallel Skeletons and Distributed Objects

Data Mining ◽

10.4018/978-1-59140-051-6.ch005 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 106-141

Author(s):

Massimo Coppola ◽

Marco Vanneschi

Keyword(s):

Data Mining ◽

High Performance ◽

Distributed Databases ◽

Sequential Algorithm ◽

Distributed Data ◽

Programming Environment ◽

Programming Environments ◽

Geographically Distributed ◽

High Level ◽

Performance Results

We consider the application of parallel programming environments to develop portable and efficient high performance data mining (DM) tools. We first assess the need of parallel and distributed DM applications, by pointing out the problems of scalability of some mining techniques and the need to mine large, eventually geographically distributed databases. We discuss the main issues of exploiting parallel and distributed computation for DM algorithms. A high-level programming language enhances the software engineering aspects of parallel DM, and it simplifies the problems of integration with existing sequential and parallel data management systems, thus leading to programming-efficient and high-performance implementations of applications. We describe a programming environment we have implemented that is based on the parallel skeleton model, and we examine the addition of object-like interfaces toward external libraries and system software layers. This kind of abstractions will be included in the forthcoming programming environment ASSIST. In the main part of the chapter, as a proof-of-concept we describe three well-known DM algorithms, Apriori, C4.5, and DBSCAN. For each problem, we explain the sequential algorithm and a structured parallel version, which is discussed and compared to parallel solutions found in the literature. We also discuss the potential gain in performance and expressiveness from the addition of external objects on the basis of the experiments we performed so far. We evaluate the approach with respect to performance results, design, and implementation considerations.

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Anthropometrics and Body Composition in East African Runners: Potential Impact on Performance

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2016-0408 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 422-430 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Martin Mooses ◽

Anthony C. Hackney

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Critical Role ◽

Relative Energy ◽

Running Economy ◽

Superior Performance ◽

Distance Running ◽

East African ◽

Energy Deficiency ◽

Low Bmi ◽

High Level

Maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), fractional utilization of V̇O2max during running, and running economy (RE) are crucial factors for running success for all endurance athletes. Although evidence is limited, investigations of these key factors indicate that East Africans’ superiority in distance running is largely due to a unique combination of these factors. East African runners appear to have a very high level of RE most likely associated, at least partly, with anthropometric characteristics rather than with any specific metabolic property of the working muscle. That is, evidence suggest that anthropometrics and body composition might have important parameters as determinants of superior performance of East African distance runners. Regrettably, this role is often overlooked and mentioned as a descriptive parameter rather than an explanatory parameter in many research studies. This brief review article provides an overview of the evidence to support the critical role anthropometrics and body composition has on the distance running success of East African athletes. The structural form and shape of these athletes also has a downside, because having very low BMI or body fat increases the risk for relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) conditions in both male and female runners, which can have serious health consequences.

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