Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
Comparative Analysis of Lower Limb Kinematics between the Initial and Terminal Phase of 5km Treadmill Running
Published on: July 17, 2020
Mechanisms for improved running economy in beginner runners
Isabel S Moore1, Andrew M Jones, Sharon J Dixon
1Bioenergetics and Human Performance Research Group, Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Unlabelled:
Controversy surrounds whether running mechanics make good predictors of running economy (RE) with little known about the development of an economical running gait.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to identify if mechanical or physiological variables changed during 10 wk of running in beginners and whether these changes could account for any change in RE.
Methods:
A 10-wk running program (10 wkRP) was completed by 10 female beginner runners. A bilateral three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic analysis, in addition to RE and lower body flexibility measurements, was performed before and after the 10 wkRP. The Balke-Ware graded walking exercise test was performed before and after the 10 wkRP to determine VO2max.
Results:
Seven kinematic and kinetic variables significantly changed from before to after training, in addition to a significant decrease in calf flexibility (27.3° ± 6.3° vs 23.9° ± 5.6°, P < 0.05). A significant improvement was seen in RE (224 ± 24 vs 205 ± 27 mL · kg(-1) · km(-1), P < 0.05) and treadmill time to exhaustion (16.4 ± 3.2 vs 17.3 ± 2.8 min, P < 0.05); however, VO2max remained unchanged from before to after training (34.7 ± 5.1 vs 34.3 ± 5.6 mL · kg(-1) · min(-1)). Stepwise regression analysis showed three kinematic variables to explain 94.3% of the variance in change in RE. They were a less extended knee at toe off (P = 0.004), peak dorsiflexion occurring later in stance (P = 0.001), and a slower eversion velocity at touchdown (P = 0.042). The magnitude of change for each variable was 1.5%, 4.7%, and 34.1%, respectively.
Conclusions:
These results show that beginner runners naturally developed their running gait as they became more economical runners.
