Running performance has a structural basis

Abstract

SUMMARY The body sizes of highly adapted human and other mammalian runners vary in accordance with specific performance needs. Sprint specialists are relatively massive and muscular while endurance specialists are conspicuously limited both in body and in muscle mass. We hypothesized that the greater body masses of faster specialists are directly related to the greater ground support forces required to attain faster running speeds. Using human runners as a test case, we obtained mean values for body mass, stature and racing speed for the world's fastest 45 male and female specialists, respectively, over the past 14 years (1990–2003) at each of eight standard track racing distances from 100 to 10,000 m. Mass-specific ground support force requirements were estimated from racing speeds using generalized support force–speed relationships derived from 18 athletic subjects. We find a single relationship between mass, stature and event-specific ground support force requirements that spans the entire continuum of specializations and applies both to male and to female runners [body mass (kg)=mass-specific support force ×stature2 (m) × a constant; N=16 group means, R2=0.97; where the ideal mass constant, D=10 kg m–2]. We conclude that running performance has a common structural basis.

Scaling of the axial morphology and gap-bridging ability of the brown tree snake,Boiga irregularis

“…The effects of increased size can be particularly important during locomotion because the entire mass of an animal moves and the entire weight of a terrestrial animal must be supported (Alexander, 2003;Biewener, 2003;Schmidt-Nielsen, 1977). Many insights into the effects of size and the limits of musculoskeletal performance have been gained by studying the demands of rapidly accelerating or steady high-speed locomotion, which are usually very large compared to those required only to support the animal's weight (Biewener, 2005;Dutto et al, 2004;Marsh, 1988;McGowan et al, 2005;Olson and Marsh, 1998;Weyand and Davis, 2005). However, the functional demands for supporting the weight of an animal may vary depending on the relationships between an animal's mass and its shape, how the body is oriented relative to gravity and where the body is supported by the environment.…”

Características antropométricas y funcionales de corredores colombianos de élite de larga distancia

“…Mundialmente, el atletismo es una de las disciplinas deportivas más destacadas, para la cual se han hecho diferentes mediciones antropométricas y morfológi-cas (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). Al comparar los resultados de este estudio con los de corredores de mediofondo españoles de nivel nacional o internacional (10), se puede afirmar que el promedio de peso corporal, porcentaje graso y porcentaje muscular fueron superiores a los reportados en este estudio.…”

“…En vista de que la composición corporal influye en el rendimiento deportivo e incluso varía entre deportistas de una misma competición, el estudio de las característi-cas antropométricas, morfológicas y funcionales del atleta de élite resulta esencial para el mantenimiento de la competitividad (2,3). Varios trabajos han demostrado que dichas características están relacionadas considerablemente con el rendimiento de los corredores (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Asimismo, se ha informado que las adaptaciones fisiológicas y el rendimiento deportivo de atletas de élite son influenciados por el perfil cineantropométrico (6,7).…”

Comparative Analysis of Barefoot and Shod Running

“…The foot and ankle serves as the foundation of structural support, balance, and propulsion. According to Weyand and Davis (2005), the foot is flexible and resilient when encountering several tons of pressure during the course of a one mile run.…”

“…As running speed increases, ground support forces increase also, reaching as high as 2.5 times bodyweight while running all out on level ground and even more when running downhill (Weyand & Davis, 2005, p. 1). Dickinson, Cook, and Leinhardt (1985) found differences in ground reaction forces between barefoot and shod running.…”