Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2025
08:26
Comparative Analysis of Lower Limb Kinematics between the Initial and Terminal Phase of 5km Treadmill Running
Published on: July 17, 2020
6.1K
Longer Ground Contact Time Is Related to a Superior Running Economy in Highly Trained Distance Runners
Fumiya Tanji1, Hayato Ohnuma2, Ryosuke Ando3,4
1Department of Competitive Sports, Tokai University, Kanagawa, Japan.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|February 13, 2024
Summary
Longer ground contact time correlates with better running economy in elite runners. Muscle size influences this relationship, but foot strike pattern appears less significant for highly trained athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Running economy (RE) is crucial for distance running performance.
- Gait parameters are linked to RE, but consensus on ground contact time and footstrike patterns is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between RE, ground contact time, and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) in highly trained runners.
- To compare these parameters between midfoot and rearfoot strikers.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen male distance runners performed treadmill running to assess RE and gait parameters.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure thigh muscle CSA.
- Statistical analysis explored correlations and group differences.
Main Results:
- RE showed significant negative correlations with running performance and ground contact time.
- Ground contact time was negatively related to vastus lateralis and hamstring muscle CSAs.
- No significant differences in RE, ground contact time, or muscle CSAs were observed between midfoot and rearfoot strikers.
Conclusions:
- Larger knee extensor muscle CSAs may lead to shorter ground contact times and reduced running economy.
- Foot strike pattern does not appear to significantly impact running economy in highly trained runners.
- Athletes can be advised to use their preferred foot strike pattern.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
1.4K
Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
1.4K
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
1.0K
Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
1.0K
02:20Longitudinal Research
12.0K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
12.0K
01:24Muscle Recovery and Fatigue
2.1K
Muscle fatigue refers to the decline in a muscle's ability to maintain the force of contraction after prolonged activity. It primarily stems from changes within muscle fibers. Even before experiencing muscle fatigue, one may feel tired and have the urge to stop the activity. This response, known as central fatigue, occurs due to changes in the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. While there is no single mechanism that induces fatigue, it may serve as a protective...
2.1K