scholarly journals Mechanical Work and Long-Distance Performance Prediction: the Influence of Allometric Scaling

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Peikriszwili Tartaruga ◽  
Jeanick Brisswalter ◽  
Carlos Bolli Mota ◽  
Cristine Lima Alberton ◽  
Natalia Andrea Gomeñuka ◽  
...  

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of allometric scaling on the relationship between mechanical work and long-distance running performance in recreational runners. Fourteen recreational long-distance runners (male, mean ± SD - age: 29 ± 7 years; body mass: 70.0 ± 10.2 kg; body height: 1.71 ± 0.07 m; maximal oxygen uptake: VO2max 52.0 ± 4.9 ml.kg-1.min-1) performed two tests: a continuous incremental test to volitional exhaustion in order to determine VO2max, and a 6-minute running submaximal test at 3.1 m.s-1, during which segments in the sagittal plane were recorded using a digital camera and the internal (Wint), external (Wext) and total (Wtot) mechanic work, in J.kg-1.m-1, was subsequently calculated. The results indicated a significant correlation between mechanical work and performance, however, the strongest correlations were observed when allometric exponents were used (respectively for Wint, Wext and Wtot; non allometric vs. allometric scaling defined by literature (0.75) or determined mathematically (0.49): r = 0.38 vs. r = 0.44 and r = 0.50; r = 0.80 vs. r = 0.83 and r = 0.82; r = 0.70 vs. r = 0.77 and r = 0.78). These results indicate that mechanical work could be used as a predictor of recreational long-distance performance and an allometric model may improve this prediction.

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1122-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Haugen ◽  
Paul A. Solberg ◽  
Carl Foster ◽  
Ricardo Morán-Navarro ◽  
Felix Breitschädel ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to quantify peak age and improvements over the preceding years to peak age in elite athletic contestants according to athlete performance level, sex, and discipline. Individual season bests for world-ranked top 100 athletes from 2002 to 2016 (14,937 athletes and 57,049 individual results) were downloaded from the International Association of Athletics Federations’ website. Individual performance trends were generated by fitting a quadratic curve separately to each athlete’s performance and age data using a linear modeling procedure. Mean peak age was typically 25–27 y, but somewhat higher for marathon and male throwers (∼28–29 y). Women reached greater peak age than men in the hurdles and middle- and long-distance running events (mean difference, ±90% CL: 0.6, ±0.3 to 1.9, ±0.3 y: small to moderate). Male throwers had greater peak age than corresponding women (1.3, ±0.3 y: small). Throwers displayed the greatest performance improvements over the 5 y prior to peak age (mean [SD]: 7.0% [2.9%]), clearly ahead of jumpers, long-distance runners, hurdlers, middle-distance runners, and sprinters (3.4, ±0.2% to 5.2, ±0.2%; moderate to large). Similarly, top 10 athletes showed greater improvements than top 11–100 athletes in all events (1.0, ±0.9% to 1.8, ±1.1%; small) except throws. Women improved more than men in all events (0.4, ±0.2% to 2.9, ±0.4%) except sprints. This study provides novel insight on performance development in athletic contestants that are useful for practitioners when setting goals and evaluating strategies for achieving success.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 650-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus P. Tartaruga ◽  
Carlos B. Mota ◽  
Leonardo A. Peyré-Tartaruga ◽  
Jeanick Brisswalter

Purpose:To identify the effect of allometric scaling on the relationship between running efficiency (REff) and middle-distancerunning performance according to performance level.Methods:Thirteen male recreational middle-distance runners (mean ± SD age 33.3 ± 8.4 y, body mass 76.4 ± 8.6 kg, maximal oxygen uptake [VO2max] 52.8 ± 4.6 mL · kg−1 · min−1; G1) and 13 male high-level middle-distance runners (age 25.5 ± 4.2 y, body mass 62.8 ± 2.7 kg, VO2max 70.4 ± 1.9 mL · kg−1 · min−1; G2) performed a continuous incremental test to volitional exhaustion to determine VO2max and a 6-min submaximal running test at 70% of VO2max to assess REff.Results:Significant correlation between REff and performance were found for both groups; however, the strongest correlations were observed in recreational runners, especially when using the allometric exponent (respectively for G1, nonallometric vs allometric scaling: r = .80 vs r = .86; and for G2, nonallometric vs allometric scaling: r = .55 vs r = .50).Conclusion:These results indicate that an allometric normalization may improve endurance-performance prediction from REff values in recreational, but not in elite, runners.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256347
Author(s):  
Žiga Kozinc ◽  
Darjan Smajla ◽  
Nejc Šarabon

Change-of-direction (CoD) ability is an important determinant of athletic performance. Muscle strength is among the most important determinants of CoD ability. However, previous studies investigating the relationship between CoD ability and muscle strength focused mostly on flexor and extensor muscle groups, or used multi-joint exercises, such as jumps, squats or mid-thigh pull. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between CoD ability and strength of ankle, knee, hip and trunk maximal and explosive strength. The participants (n = 327), consisting of male and female basketball players, tennis players and long-distance runners completed isometric strength assessments and CoD testing (90° and 180° turn tests). The times of both CoD tests were associated with muscle strength (peak torques and the rate of torque development variables), with correlation coefficients being mostly weak to moderate (r = 0.2–0.6). Strength variables explained 33%, 62% and 48% of the variance in the 90° turn task, and 42%, 36% and 59% of the variance in the 180° turn task, in basketball players, long-distance runners and tennis players, respectively. Hip and trunk muscle strength variables were the most prevalent in the regression models, especially hip adduction and abduction strength. Our results suggest that the strength of several lower limb muscles, in particular of the hip abductors and adductors, and trunk muscles, but also hip rotators, extensors and flexors, as well as knee and ankle flexors and extensors should be considered when aiming to improve CoD performance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-52
Author(s):  
Marcel Nemec

Summary The purpose of the study was to identify and analyze the occurrence of cathartic states in a sample of long-distance runners. Data collected via questionnaires were used to evaluate quantitative variables complemented by heuristics while aiming at qualitatively categorize the areas of cathartic states in the context of philosophical and spiritual aspects of long-distance running. The study findings objectify philosophical and spiritual aspects affecting personalities of long-distance runners. The study findings have shown that catharsis represents a relevant philosophical and spiritual aspect affecting long-distance running. We assume that authentic experience of catharsis and its effects motivates runners to perform regular physical activity. The analysis of philosophical and spiritual aspects of long-distance running has revealed a multi-spectral holistic relevance based on the transfer affecting a specific way of life, spectrum of values, ethical personality traits, and also the quality of long-distance runners’ lives.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Azevedo Lopes ◽  
Mayara Maciel Batista ◽  
Letícia Martins ◽  
André Luiz Kiihn ◽  
Marcos Roberto Queiroga ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Some authors have described the importance of physiological intensity in the behavior of the biomechanical aspects of running (for example, subtalar pronation), but the complex relationships between these variables are not yet well understood. Objective: This study investigated the influence of positive gradients on internal mechanical work (Wint) and maximum subtalar pronation at a submaximal running speed. Method: Sixteen male, trained long-distance runners (age: 29 ± 7 yr; stature: 1.72 ± 0.07 m; body mass: 72.1 ± 10.6 kg), performed four running economy tests (gradients: +1%, +5%, +10% and +15%, respectively) for four minutes at a same submaximal running speed to quantify the maximum values of subtalar pronation and predict the Wint values. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Student’s T-test, and one-way repeated-measures (ANOVA) along with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: Wint increased according to the gradient (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the maximum values of maximum subtalar pronation corresponding to each gradient. Conclusion: Results show the maximum subtalar pronation during submaximal running depends on the speed rather than intensity of effort.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark E. Kasmer ◽  
Xue-cheng Liu ◽  
Kyle G. Roberts ◽  
Jason M. Valadao

Purpose:To determine prevalence of heel strike in a midsize city marathon, if there is an association between foot-strike classification and race performance, and if there is an association between foot-strike classification and gender.Methods:Foot-strike classification (forefoot, midfoot, heel, or split strike), gender, and rank (position in race) were recorded at the 8.1-km mark for 2112 runners at the 2011 Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon.Results:1991 runners were classified by foot-strike pattern, revealing a heel-strike prevalence of 93.67% (n = 1865). A significant difference between foot-strike classification and performance was found using a Kruskal-Wallis test (P < .0001), with more elite performers being less likely to heel strike. No significant difference between foot-strike classification and gender was found using a Fisher exact test. In addition, subgroup analysis of the 126 non-heel strikers found no significant difference between shoe wear and performance using a Kruskal-Wallis test.Conclusions:The high prevalence of heel striking observed in this study reflects the foot-strike pattern of most mid-distance to long-distance runners and, more important, may predict their injury profile based on the biomechanics of a heel-strike running pattern. This knowledge can help clinicians appropriately diagnose, manage, and train modifications of injured runners.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 31-42
Author(s):  
D. Chojnicki ◽  
O. Smoleńska ◽  
R. Muszkieta

Purpose of the article is to identify the most important psychological factors influencing success among long-distance runners. Material and methods. The application of an electronic diagnostic survey (interview) was used as the research method in the study. The normalized questionnaire was applied as a research technique in the paper. Results.The analysis of the results was divided into parts, the first two of which concern the characteristics and environment of the respondents, and the remaining ones refer to the research problems formulated in the methodology section. The most numerous group of women have physical and mental trainings (32%) and the majority of men trains neither physically nor mentally (28%). Conclusions. There are many key factors in long-distance running. However, the most important ones seem to be stubbornness, motivation, self-confidence, optimism as well as support from family and peers. Runners are considered to be people who are often physically and mentally resistant. They are often able to sacrifice a lot to achieve their goals. The path taken by long-distance runners is often incomprehensible to their surroundings that is family, peers or employers.


2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale Bickham ◽  
Warren Young ◽  
Peter Blanch

Objective:To determine the relationship between lumbopelvic (LP) stabilization strength and pelvic motion during running.Design:Runners were assessed for pelvic motion and undertook an LP stabilization strength test.Participants:Sixteen elite male middle- and long-distance runners.interventions:Pelvis kinematics were assessed while subjects ran at 5 m/s on a treadmill.Main Outcome Measures:Angular pelvis displacement was divided into 3 axes of rotation: pelvic tilt, obliquity, and rotation. LP stabilization strength was the capacity to resist increasing static loads applied to each leg and maintain a neutral LP zone. Intercorrelations were calculated for all measures of pelvic motion and LP stabilization strength.Results:There were no significant relationships found among any of the variables (P> .05). However, the LP stabilization strength test possessed good interday reliability.Conclusions:The relationship between pelvic motion and muscle function should be studied under a variety of other conditions.


Author(s):  
Krzysztof Stec ◽  
Karol Pilis ◽  
Zbigniew Witkowski ◽  
Anna Pilis ◽  
Cezary Michalski ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study is to determine the anaerobic power of men of similar age representing different sports disciplines. Professional athletes representing the following sports participated in the study: soccer (n=15, PS), martial arts (n=12, MA), weightlifting (n=15, WL), powerlifting (n=15, PL), middle- and long distance running (n=12, DR), race walking (n=14, RW), and recreational soccer (n=15, RS). After recording personal and somatic data, the subjects performed a 3-minute warm-up followed immediately by a 30 seconds cycloergometric Wingate test. The following variables of anaerobic power were calculated: total external work (TEW-KJ/30s), maximal power (Pmax-W/kg), mean power (Pmean-W/kg), fatigue index (FI-%). It was shown that the examined groups differed in body weight (F=13.560, p<0.001), body height (F=3.342, p<0.01) and BMI (F=28.868, p<0.01). There were also significant differences in the TEW range (F=5.764, p<0.001), Pmax (F=2.807, p=0.013) and FI=4.942, p<0.001) and no intergroup difference in the Pmean range. In conclusion, it should be pointed out that various types of sports training develop in the various degree different components of anaerobic power, however they develop similarly its average value.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document