Two sides of the same runner! The association between biomechanical and physiological markers of endurance performance in distance runners

• Published in: Gait & posture Vol. 113; pp. 252 - 257
• Main Authors: Leite, Otávio Henrique Cardoso, do Prado, Danilo Marcelo Leite, Rabelo, Nayra Deise dos Anjos, Pires, Leonardo, Barton, Gabor József, Hespanhol, Luiz, Lucareli, Paulo Roberto Garcia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise Test; Female; Humans; Male; Oxygen Consumption; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Physical Endurance - physiology; Running; Running - physiology; Young Adult; Running; Biomechanical Phenomena; Exercise Test; Oxygen Consumption
• ISSN: 0966-6362; 1879-2219; 1879-2219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2024.06.027

The number of people who run to achieve competitive performance has increased, encouraging the scientific community to analyze the association of factors that can affect a runner performance. Is there association between running spatiotemporal and angular kinematics with the physiological markers of endurance performance during a cardiorespiratory exercise test? This was an observational cross-sectional study with 40 distance runners simultaneously submitted to a running biomechanical analysis and cardiorespiratory exercise test on a treadmill. Mixed models were developed to verify the association between angular kinematic data obtained by the Movement Deviation Profile and the running spatiotemporal data with oxygen consumption and ventilatory thresholds. Spatiotemporal variables [.e., step frequency Odds Ratio 0.09 [0.06–0.12 95 % Confidence Interval], center of mass vertical displacement Odds Ratio 0.10 [0.07–0.14 95 % Confidence Interval], and step length [Odds Ratio −0.01 [-0.01 to −0.00 95 % Confidence Interval]] were associated with VO2. Also, step frequency Odds Ratio 1.03 [1.01–1.05 95 % Confidence Interval] was associated with the first ventilatory threshold, and angular running kinematics [Movement Deviation Profile analysis] Odds Ratio 1.47 [1.13–1.91 95 % Confidence Interval] was associated with peak of exercise during the cardiorespiratory exercise test. Our findings demonstrated that: both higher step frequency and center of mass vertical displacement are associated with the increase of oxygen demand; step frequency is associated with the first ventilatory threshold, due to the entrainment mechanism and angular kinematic parameters are associated with peak aerobic speed. Future studies could also compare the biomechanical and physiological characteristics of different groups of distance runners. This could help identify the factors that contribute to oxygen demands during running and performance across different ages, genders, and levels of competition. •Study examines running kinematics and endurance performance.•Spatiotemporal variables affect oxygen consumption and VT1.•Angular kinematics (MDP analysis) was associated with peak of exercise and speed.•Findings suggest ways to improve running economy and performance.