Energetic and neuromuscular impact of running on even or uneven surfaces in standardized laboratory conditions
Simone Bettega1, Lorenzo Bortolan2, Federico Stella3
1CeRiSM (Research Center Sport Mountain and Health), University of Verona and Trento, Rovereto, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy.
Purpose:
We examine the energetic and neuromuscular effects of running on even (E-T) and uneven terrains (UE-T) by creating smooth and rough conditions on a standardized circuit.
Methods:
Ten adults (age 32.1 ± 7.6 years, body mass 62.2 ± 7 kg, height 167.5 ± 4.2 cm) ran on an 'iterative-8-shaped' path. For UE-T, solid hemispheres were fixed to a perforated mat, while for E-T, visible marks guided foot placement. Participants performed two 6-min trials on both terrains in a counterbalanced order, maintaining consistent running patterns and low-intensity speed with a metronome to guide step frequency. This ensured consistency in the timing and positioning of foot placement between the two conditions. Cardio-metabolic parameters were measured continuously, and muscle activation was recorded from six leg muscles using surface EMG.
Results:
The analysis showed significantly higher cardio-metabolic responses in UE-T compared to E-T, with increases in oxygen cost (+18 %), energy cost (+23 %), respiratory frequency (+7%), ventilation (+19 %), heart rate (+10 %), and RPE (+50 %) (all p < 0.05). Electromyographic activation of the tibialis anterior (+22 %) and peroneus longus (+10 %) also increased in UE-T.
Conclusions:
These findings indicate that running on uneven terrain demands more energy and greater activation of ankle stabilizers, as required in off-road and trail running.
