The effect of fatigue on running mechanics in older and younger runners

The presence of fatigue has been shown to modify running biomechanics. Throughout a run individuals become more fatigued, and the effectiveness of the musculoskeletal protective mechanism can diminish. Older adults are at an elevated risk for sustaining an overuse running related injury. This can be partially explained by changes in the musculoskeletal system and load attenuation.

The purpose was to compare post-fatigue running mechanics between older and younger runners.

Thirty runners (15 young, 15 older) between the ages of 18-65 participated in this study. All participants ran at least 15 miles/week. Running kinematics were captured using a 10-camera motion capture system while participants ran over a 10-m runway with force platforms collecting kinetic data under two conditions: C1: rested state at a controlled pace of 3.5 m/s ( ± 5%); C2: post-exertional protocol where pace was not controlled, rather it was monitored based on heartrate and RPE representative of somewhat-hard to hard intensity exercise. Prior to C2, participants underwent an exertional protocol that consisted of a maximal exercise test to induce fatigue and a required cool-down. A 2 (state of fatigue) x 2 (age) MANOVA was run to test for the effects of fatigue and age and their interactions.

No state of fatigue x age interaction was observed. A main effect of age for peak knee extension moment (Y > O; p = 0.01), maximum knee power (Y > O; p = 0.04), maximum hip power (O >Y; p = 0.04), and peak vertical ground reaction force (Y > O; p = 0.007). Regardless of age, participants exhibited decreased knee ROM (p = 0.007) and greater hip extension moment (p < 0.001) in C2 compared to C1.

While different in knee and hip mechanics overall, the subtle differences observed demonstrate that older runners exhibit comparable gait adaptions post-fatigue to younger volume-matched runners.