Abstract
Purpose
Running at a given speed can be achieved by taking large steps at a low frequency or on the contrary by taking small steps at a high frequency. The consequences of a change in step frequency, at a fixed speed, affects the stiffness of the lower limb differently. In this study, we compared the running mechanics and kinematics at different imposed step frequencies (from 2 step s−1 to 3.6 step s−1) to understand the relationship between kinematic and kinetic parameters.
Methods
Eight recreational male runners ran on a treadmill at 5 different speeds and 5 different step frequencies. The lower-limb segment motion and the ground reaction forces were recorded. Mechanical powers, general gait parameters, lower-limb movements and coordination were investigated.
Results
At low step frequencies, in order to limit the magnitude of the ground reaction force, the vertical stiffness is reduced and thus runners deviate from an elastic rebound. At high step frequencies, the stiffness is increased and the elastic rebound is optimised in its ability to absorb and restore energy during the contact phase.
Conclusion
We studied the consequences of a change in step frequency on the bouncing mechanics of running. We showed that the lower limb stiffness and the intersegmental coordination of the lower-limb segments are affected by running step frequency rather than speed. The runner rather adapts their lower limb stiffness to match a step frequency for a given speed than the opposite.
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Data availability
Data are available upon reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- BW:
-
Body weight
- CoM:
-
Centre of mass
- GRF:
-
Ground reaction force
- F x , F y , F z :
-
Lateral, fore aft and vertical components of the GRF
- a f , a v and v f , v v :
-
Fore-aft (f) and vertical (v) accelerations and velocities of the CoM
- E com, E kf, E v :
-
Energy of the CoM, kinetic energy about the fore-aft direction, vertical energy
- \({E}_{\mathrm{int}}^{i}\) :
-
Internal energy of each segment (i) in relation to the CoM
- k vert :
-
Vertical stiffness of the CoM spring
- PV:
-
Percentage of variance
- ROM:
-
Range of motion
- S c,down and S c,up :
-
Sv During the contact phases divided into its down and upwards increment
- SF, SFs and PSF:
-
Step frequency, step frequencies and preferred step frequencies
- SL, L ce, L ae :
-
Step length, effective contact and effective aerial lengths
- S v :
-
Vertical displacement of the CoM
- T, t c and t a :
-
Step, contact and aerial times
- t brake and t push :
-
Time spent braking and spent re-accelerating the CoM during tc
- t ce and t ae :
-
Effective contact time and effective aerial time
- u 3t, u 3s, u 3f :
-
Direction cosines of the thigh, shank and foot of the normal covariation plane
- v belt and V avg :
-
Speed of the treadmill belt and average of vbelt over one stride
- \({W}_{\mathrm{ext}}^{+}\) :
-
Positive external work of the CoM
- \({\dot{W}}_{\mathrm{ext}}^{+}\) and \({\dot{W}}_{\mathrm{ext},\mathrm{push}}^{+}\) :
-
Positive external power of the CoM over a step and over tpush
- \({W}_{\mathrm{int}}^{+}\) and\({\dot{W}}_{\mathrm{int}}^{+}\) :
-
Positive internal work and power of the segments as compared to the CoM
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank F. Desimpelaere for her contribution in the data collection and treatment during her time at the lab.
Funding
Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS. Grant number CDR 40013847. Pr. Arthur Dewolf.
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PW and RM conceived and designed research. RM and GC conducted experiments. GC, RM and AD analyzed data. RM, PW, GC, and AD contributed to the interpretation of the results. RM and AD wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors provided critical feedback and helped shape the research, analysis and manuscript.
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Mesquita, R.M., Willems, P.A., Catavitello, G. et al. Kinematics and mechanical changes with step frequency at different running speeds. Eur J Appl Physiol 124, 607–622 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05303-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05303-3