Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adaptational phenomena and mechanical responses during running: effect of surface, aging and task experience

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The goals of the study were to identify adaptational phenomena in running mechanics over a variety of surfaces due to age related changes in the muscle-tendon units (MTUs) capacities, to examine whether running experience is associated with adaptational effects on running mechanics over a variety of surfaces even at old age, and to investigate whether surface condition affects running mechanics. The investigation was executed on 30 old and 19 young including 29 runners and 20 non-active subjects. In a previous study we documented that the older had lower MTUs capacities. In the present study running mechanics were analysed as the same subjects ran at 2.7 m/s over three surfaces having different compliance. Surface condition did not affect centre of mass trajectory, duty factor or joint kinetics (P > 0.01). Older react to the reduced MTUs capacity by increasing duty factor and benefiting from a mechanical advantage for the triceps surae MTU and a lower rate of force generation on all surfaces (P < 0.01). Runners displayed lower average horizontal forces and a higher mechanical advantage for the quadriceps femoris MTU for all surfaces (P < 0.01). The results provided strong evidence on that running strategy remained essentially unchanged over a variety of surfaces. Adaptive improvements in running mechanics due to task experience were present for all surfaces and did not depend on age. We further concluded that older adults were able to recalibrate their running strategy to adjust the task effort to the reduced MTUs capacities in a feedforward control manner for a variety of mechanical environments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aniansson A, Hedberg M, Henning GB, Grimby G (1986) Muscle morphology, enzymatic activity, and muscle strength in elderly men: a follow-up study. Muscle Nerve 9:585–591

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arampatzis A, Brüggemann G-P, Metzler V (1999) The effect of speed on leg stiffness and joint kinetics in human running. J Biomech 32:1349–1353

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Biewener AA, Farley CT, Roberts TJ, Temaner M (2004) Muscle mechanical advantage of human walking and running: implications for energy cost. J Appl Physiol 97:2266–2274

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buch ER, Young S, Contreras-Vidal JL (2003) Visuomotor adaptation in normal aging. Learn Mem 10:55–63

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carrier DR, Heglund NC, Earls KD (1994) Variable gearing during locomotion in the human musculoskeletal system. Science 265:651–653

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang YH, Kram R (1999) Metabolic cost of generating horizontal forces during human running. J Appl Physiol 86:1657–1662

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dempster WT, Gabel WC, Felts WJ (1959) The anthropometry of the manual work space for the seated subject. Am J Phys Anthropol 17:289–317

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeVita P (1994) The selection of standard convention for analyzing gait data based on the analysis of relevant biomechanical factors. J Biomech 27:501–508

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeVita P, Hortobagyi T (2000) Age causes a redistribution of joint torques and powers during gait. J Appl Physiol 88:1804–1811

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeVita P, Blankenship-Hunter P, Skelly WA (1992) Effects of functional knee brace on the biomechanics of running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 24:797–806

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond MC, Johnson RE, Protti AM, Ott C, Kajisa L (1985) Plasticity in the 904-day-old male rat cerebral cortex. Exp Neurol 87:309–317

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon SJ, Collop AC, Batt ME (2000) Surface effects on ground reaction forces and lower extremity kinematics in running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32:1919–1926

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Erni T, Dietz V (2001) Obstacle avoidance during human walking: learning rate and cross-modal transfer. J Physiol 534:303–312

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farley CT, Houdijk HH, Van Strien C, Louie M (1998) Mechanism of leg stiffness adjustment for hopping on surfaces of different stiffnesses. J Appl Physiol 85:1044–1055

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferchmin PA, Eterovic VA (1986) Forty minutes of experience increase the weight and RNA content of cerebral cortex in periadolescent rats. Dev Psychobiol 19:511–519

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Ruiz J, Hall C, Vergara P, Diiaz R (2000) Prism adaptation in normal aging: slower adaptation rate and larger after effect. Cogn Brain Res 9:223–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferris DP, Farley CT (1997) Interaction of leg stiffness and surfaces stiffness during human hopping. J Appl Physiol 82:15–22

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferris DP, Louie M, Farley CT (1998) Running in the real world: adjusting leg stiffness for different surfaces. Proc Biol Sci 265:989–994

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferris DP, Liang K, Farley CT (1999) Runners adjust leg stiffness for their first step on a new running surface. J Biomech 32:787–94

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frontera WR, Hughes VA, Lutz KJ, Evans WJ (1991) A cross-sectional study of muscle strength and mass in 45- to 78-yr-old men and women. J Appl Physiol 71:644–650

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gottschall JS, Kram R (2003) Energy cost and muscular activity required for propulsion during walking. J Appl Physiol 94:1766–1772

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herzog W, Read LJ (1993) Lines of action and moment arms of the major force-carrying structures crossing the human knee joint. J Anat 182:213–230

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hof AL (1992) An explicit expression for the moment in multibody systems. J Biomech 25:1209–1211

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hortobagyi T, Mizelle C, Beam S, DeVita P (2003) Old adults perform activities of daily living near their maximal capabilities. J Gerontol 58:M453–M460

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes VA, Frontera WR, Wood M, Evans WJ, Dallal GE, Roubenoff R, Fiatarone Singh MA (2001) Longitudinal muscle strength changes in older adults: influence of muscle mass, physical activity, and health. J Gerontol 56:B209–B217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kagerer FA, Contreras-Vidal JL, Stelmach GE (1997) Adaptation to gradual as compared with sudden visuo-motor distortions. Exp Brain Res 115:557–561

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karamanidis K, Arampatzis A (2006) Mechanical and morphological properties of human quadriceps femoris and triceps surae muscle–tendon unit in relation to aging and running. J Biomech 39:406–417

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karamanidis K, Arampatzis A, Brüggemann G-P (2003) Symmetry and reproducibility of kinematic parameters during various running techniques. Med Sci Sports Exerc 35:1009–1016

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karamanidis K, Arampatzis A, Brüggemann G-P (2004) Reproducibility of electromyography and ground reaction force during various running techniques. Gait Posture 19:115–123

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kerdok AE, Biewener AA, McMahon TA, Weyand PG, Herr HM (2002) Energetics and mechanics of human running on surfaces of different stiffnesses. J Appl Physiol 92:469–478

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kjaer M (2004) Role of extracellular matrix in adaptation of tendon and skeletal muscle to mechanical loading. Physiol Rev 84:694–698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kram R, Taylor CR (1990) Energetics of running: a new perspective. Nature 346:265–267

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maganaris CN, Baltzopoulos V, Sargeant AJ (1998) Changes in Achilles tendon moment arm from rest to maximum isometric plantarflexion: in vivo observations in man. J Physiol 510:977–985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marigold DS, Patla AE (2002) Strategies for dynamic stability during locomotion on a slippery surface: effects of prior experience and knowledge. J Neurophysiol 88:339–353

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McMahon TA (1985) The role of compliance in mammalian running gaits. J Exp Biol 115:263–282

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McNay EC, Willingham DB (1998) Deficit in learning of a motor skill requiring strategy, but not of perceptuomotor recalibration, with aging. Learn Mem 4:411–420

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Messier SP, Davis SE, Curl WW, Lowery RB, Pack RJ (1991) Etiologic factors associated with patellofemoral pain in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc 23:1008–1015

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder T, Zijlstra W, Geurts A (2002) Assessment of motor recovery and decline. Gait Posture 16:198–210

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nigg BM, Cole GK, Nachbauer W (1993) Effects of arch height of the foot on angular motion of the lower extremities in running. J Biomech 26:909–916

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nurse MA, Hulliger M, Wakeling JM, Nigg BM, Stefanyshyn DJ (2005) Changing the texture of footwear can alter gait patterns. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 15:496–506

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Owings TM, Pavol MJ, Grabiner MD (2001) Mechanisms of failed recovery following postural perturbations on a motorized treadmill mimic those associated with an actual forward trip. Clin Biomech 16:813–819

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pai YC, Wening JD, Runtz EF, Iqbal K, Pavol MJ (2003) Role of feedforward control of movement stability in reducing slip-related balance loss and falls among older adults. J Neurophysiol 90:755–762

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patla AE (1997) Understanding the roles of vision in the control of human locomotion. Gait Posture 5:54–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patla AE, Adkin A, Martin C, Holden R, Prentice S (1996) Characteristics of voluntary visual sampling of the environment for safe locomotion over different terrains. Exp Brain Res 112:513–522

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pavol MJ, Runtz EF, Edwards BJ, Pai YC (2002) Age influences the outcome of a slipping perturbation during initial but not repeated exposures. J Gerontol 57:M496–M503

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry SD, Santos LC, Patla AE (2001) Contribution of vision and cutaneous sensation to the control of centre of mass (COM) during gait termination. Brain Res 913:27–34

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prince F, Corriveau H, Hébert R, Winter DA (1997) Gait in the elderly. Gait Posture 5:128–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raz N (ed) (2000) Aging of the brain and its impact on cognitive performance: integration of structural and functional findings. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ

  • Schultz AB (1992) Mobility impairment in the elderly: challenges for biomechanics research. J Biomech 25:519–528

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shadmehr R (2004) Generalization as a behavioral window to the neural mechanisms of learning internal models. Hum Mov Sci 23:543–568

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sorensen KL, Hollands MA, Patla E (2002) The effects of human ankle muscle vibration on posture and balance during adaptive locomotion. Exp Brain Res 143:24–34

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stelmach GE, Worringham CJ (1985) Sensorimotor deficits related to postural stability. Implications for falling in the elderly. Clin Geriatr Med 3:679–694

    Google Scholar 

  • van Hedel HJ, Dietz V (2004) The influence of age on learning a locomotor task. Clin Neurophysiol 115:2134–2143

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Hedel HJ, Biedermann M, Erni T, Dietz V (2002) Obstacle avoidance during human walking: transfer of motor skill from one leg to the other. J Physiol 543:709–717

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe I, Okubo J (1981) The role of the plantar mechanoreceptor in equilibrium control. Ann N Y Acad Sci 374:855–864

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winegard KJ, Hicks AL, Sale DG, Vandervoort AA (1996) A 12-year follow-up study of ankle muscle function in older adults. J Gerontol 51:B202–B207

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfson L (2001) Gait and balance dysfunction: a model of the interaction of age and disease. Neuroscientist 7:178–183

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfson L, Judge J, Whipple R, King M (1995) Strength is a major factor in balance, gait, and the occurrence of falls. J Gerontol 50:64–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolpert DM, Ghahramani Z, Jordan MI (1995) An internal model for sensorimotor integration. Science 269:1880–1882

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woltring HJ (1986) A FORTRAN package for generalized, cross-validatory spline smoothing and differentiation. Advances in Engineering Software 8

  • Woollacott MH, Shumway-Cook A, Nashner LM (1986) Aging and posture control: changes in sensory organization and muscular coordination. Int J Aging Hum Dev 23:97–114

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank G. Morey-Klapsing, S. Stafilidis and G. DeMonte for their help collecting data for this study and for helpful discussions and preparation of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University of Cologne, Carl-Diem-Weg 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Kiros Karamanidis, Adamantios Arampatzis & Gert-Peter Brüggemann

Authors
  1. Kiros Karamanidis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adamantios Arampatzis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gert-Peter Brüggemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adamantios Arampatzis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Karamanidis, K., Arampatzis, A. & Brüggemann, GP. Adaptational phenomena and mechanical responses during running: effect of surface, aging and task experience. Eur J Appl Physiol 98, 284–298 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0277-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0277-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation