Do changes in middle-distance running kinematics contribute to the age-related decline in performance?

The aim of this study was to assess ageing-related changes in middle-distance running kinematics and performance in master athletes.

Male athletes (n=157; 57±13.3 years) competing in the 800- and 1500-m runs at the German Master Athletics Outdoor Championships 2018 were filmed and the bending-over angle, brake angle, leg-stiffness angle, propulsion angle and hip-flexion angle measured.

Leg-stiffness and propulsion angle decreased with age (all p<.001), while bending-over, brake and hip-flexion angle increased (all p<.001). Bending-over, propulsion and hip-flexion angles were smaller in 800- than 1500-m races, while the brake angle was larger in 800- than 1500-m races (all p<.001), with no significant difference in leg-stiffness angle between disciplines. In the last round, hip flexion was lower compared to earlier rounds in both distances (p<.001). Age was the major predictor for performance in both races (800-m R_adj²=0.74; p<.001, 1500-m R_adj²=0.80; p<.001), with a minor impact of technique (improved R_adj² to 0.84 and 0.86, respectively).

The study revealed that the ageing-related decline in running performance of master athletes was primarily explicable by age with only a small contribution of changes in sprint kinematics.