Spatiotemporal and kinematic adjustments in master runners may be associated with the relative physiological effort during running

• Main Authors: Parunchaya Jamkrajang (Author), Sarit Suwanmana (Author), Weerawat Limroongreungrat (Author), Jasper Verheul (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2624-9367; 10.3389/fspor.2023.1271502
• Keywords: aging; running biomechanics; performance; lower-Limb kinematics; spatiotemporal analysis; Sports; GV557-1198.995
• Source: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Vol 5 (2023)

Master runners maintain a similar running economy to young runners, despite displaying biomechanical characteristics that are associated with a worse running economy. This apparent paradox may be explained by a greater physiological effort-i.e., percentage of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2-max)-that master runners perform at a given speed. Moreover, age-related responses to non-exhaustive sustained running are yet underexplored. The aims of this study were, therefore, to examine if biomechanical adjustments in master runners are physiological-effort dependent, and to explore the age-related biomechanical changes during a non-exhaustive sustained run. Young (23.9 ± 6; n = 12) and master (47.3 ± 6.9; n = 12) runners performed a sustained 30-minute treadmill run matched for relative physiological effort (70% VO2-max), while spatiotemporal and lower-limb kinematic characteristics were collected during the 1st and 30th minute. Group differences were observed in step/stride length, knee touch-down angle, and knee stiffness. However, both groups of runners had a similar step frequency, vertical center of mass oscillation, and knee range of motion. Age-related adjustment in these latter characteristics may thus not be an inevitable result of the aging process but rather a strategy to maintain running economy. The relative physiological effort of runners should, therefore, be considered when examining age-related adjustments in running biomechanics.