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Association Between Reactive Strength Index and Metabolic Cost of Running in Male Master Athletes
Maxence Tanneau1, Nicolas Berryman2, Iñigo Mujika3
1Faculty of Sport Sciences, Laboratory MOVE (UR 20296), University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France.
Purpose:
To examine the association between reactive strength index (RSI) and metabolic cost of running (MCr) in master athletes. We hypothesized that individuals with a higher RSI would exhibit a lower MCr, that both variables would be associated, and that age would moderate this relationship.
Methods:
Forty-five male master athletes participated to this study. A median split was performed to constitute 2 age groups (group 1, 47.7 [1.7] y old; group 2, 56.3 [4.6] y old). Participants underwent a single 45-minute session during which RSI was assessed with drop jumps, and MCr, during a continuous exercise of submaximal intensity performed on a treadmill.
Results:
A small negative association was found between net MCr and RSI in the overall sample (RSI mean r = -.38, P < .05; RSI max r = -.38, P < .05). Group 1 exhibited a lower net MCr (P < .01, d = -0.84) and higher RSI (P < .01, d > 0.82) than group 2. However, the association between the 2 measures was verified specifically in group 2 (RSI from a 20-cm drop jump, r = -.53, P < .01; RSI mean, r = -.50, P < .05; RSI maximum, r = -.57, P < .01).
Conclusions:
RSI is associated with net MCR in master athletes, particularly in older participants. Additional intervention studies are now required to further explore this association.
