Energy Cost of Running Under Hypogravity in Well-Trained Runners and Triathletes: A Biomechanical Perspective

Hypogravity treadmills have become a popular training tool in distance running and triathlon. Counter-intuitively, tibial acceleration load is not attenuated by hypogravity unloading during running, while, equally surprisingly, leaps become flatter instead of higher. To explain these effects from a...

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Main Authors: Ueberschär O., Fleckenstein D., Warschun F., Walter N., Wüstenfeld J. C., Wolfarth B., Hoppe M. W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2019-09-01
Series:International Journal of Computer Science in Sport
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/ijcss-2019-0014
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author Ueberschär O.
Fleckenstein D.
Warschun F.
Walter N.
Wüstenfeld J. C.
Wolfarth B.
Hoppe M. W.
author_facet Ueberschär O.
Fleckenstein D.
Warschun F.
Walter N.
Wüstenfeld J. C.
Wolfarth B.
Hoppe M. W.
author_sort Ueberschär O.
collection DOAJ
description Hypogravity treadmills have become a popular training tool in distance running and triathlon. Counter-intuitively, tibial acceleration load is not attenuated by hypogravity unloading during running, while, equally surprisingly, leaps become flatter instead of higher. To explain these effects from a biomechanical perspective, Polet, Schroeder, and Bertram (2017) recently developed an energetic model for hypogravity running and validated it with recreational athletes at a constant jogging speed. The present study was conducted to refine that model for competitive athletes at relevant running speeds of 12–22 km h−1 and gravity levels of 100 %, 80 % and 60 %. Based on new experimental data on 15 well-trained runners in treadmill tests until volitional exhaustion, the enhanced semi-empirical model well describes energy expenditure and the observed biomechanical effects of hypogravity running. Remarkably, anaerobic contributions led to an increase in energy cost per meter for speeds above 16–18 km h−1 (p < 0.001), irrespective of hypogravity unloading. Moreover, some converging trends were observed that might reflect general adaptations in running motor control for optimization of efficiency. In essence, the outcome of this research might help sports scientists and practitioners to design running programs for specific training stimuli, e.g. conditioning of anaerobic energy metabolism.
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issn 1684-4769
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publishDate 2019-09-01
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series International Journal of Computer Science in Sport
spelling doaj-art-7ef0f4f673eb4976be2efec5fdcb9f552025-08-20T02:50:26ZengSciendoInternational Journal of Computer Science in Sport1684-47692019-09-01182608010.2478/ijcss-2019-0014Energy Cost of Running Under Hypogravity in Well-Trained Runners and Triathletes: A Biomechanical PerspectiveUeberschär O.0Fleckenstein D.1Warschun F.2Walter N.3Wüstenfeld J. C.4Wolfarth B.5Hoppe M. W.6Institute for Applied Training Science (IAT); Leipzig, GermanyInstitute for Applied Training Science (IAT); Leipzig, GermanyInstitute for Applied Training Science (IAT); Leipzig, GermanyInstitute for Applied Training Science (IAT); Leipzig, GermanyInstitute for Applied Training Science (IAT); Leipzig, GermanyInstitute for Applied Training Science (IAT); Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Movement and Training Science, University of Wuppertal; Wuppertal, GermanyHypogravity treadmills have become a popular training tool in distance running and triathlon. Counter-intuitively, tibial acceleration load is not attenuated by hypogravity unloading during running, while, equally surprisingly, leaps become flatter instead of higher. To explain these effects from a biomechanical perspective, Polet, Schroeder, and Bertram (2017) recently developed an energetic model for hypogravity running and validated it with recreational athletes at a constant jogging speed. The present study was conducted to refine that model for competitive athletes at relevant running speeds of 12–22 km h−1 and gravity levels of 100 %, 80 % and 60 %. Based on new experimental data on 15 well-trained runners in treadmill tests until volitional exhaustion, the enhanced semi-empirical model well describes energy expenditure and the observed biomechanical effects of hypogravity running. Remarkably, anaerobic contributions led to an increase in energy cost per meter for speeds above 16–18 km h−1 (p < 0.001), irrespective of hypogravity unloading. Moreover, some converging trends were observed that might reflect general adaptations in running motor control for optimization of efficiency. In essence, the outcome of this research might help sports scientists and practitioners to design running programs for specific training stimuli, e.g. conditioning of anaerobic energy metabolism.https://doi.org/10.2478/ijcss-2019-0014altergaerobic and anaerobic energy metabolismoxygen consumption and lactate accumulationtibial accelerationsinertial measurement unit
spellingShingle Ueberschär O.
Fleckenstein D.
Warschun F.
Walter N.
Wüstenfeld J. C.
Wolfarth B.
Hoppe M. W.
Energy Cost of Running Under Hypogravity in Well-Trained Runners and Triathletes: A Biomechanical Perspective
International Journal of Computer Science in Sport
alterg
aerobic and anaerobic energy metabolism
oxygen consumption and lactate accumulation
tibial accelerations
inertial measurement unit
title Energy Cost of Running Under Hypogravity in Well-Trained Runners and Triathletes: A Biomechanical Perspective
title_full Energy Cost of Running Under Hypogravity in Well-Trained Runners and Triathletes: A Biomechanical Perspective
title_fullStr Energy Cost of Running Under Hypogravity in Well-Trained Runners and Triathletes: A Biomechanical Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Energy Cost of Running Under Hypogravity in Well-Trained Runners and Triathletes: A Biomechanical Perspective
title_short Energy Cost of Running Under Hypogravity in Well-Trained Runners and Triathletes: A Biomechanical Perspective
title_sort energy cost of running under hypogravity in well trained runners and triathletes a biomechanical perspective
topic alterg
aerobic and anaerobic energy metabolism
oxygen consumption and lactate accumulation
tibial accelerations
inertial measurement unit
url https://doi.org/10.2478/ijcss-2019-0014
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AT warschunf energycostofrunningunderhypogravityinwelltrainedrunnersandtriathletesabiomechanicalperspective
AT waltern energycostofrunningunderhypogravityinwelltrainedrunnersandtriathletesabiomechanicalperspective
AT wustenfeldjc energycostofrunningunderhypogravityinwelltrainedrunnersandtriathletesabiomechanicalperspective
AT wolfarthb energycostofrunningunderhypogravityinwelltrainedrunnersandtriathletesabiomechanicalperspective
AT hoppemw energycostofrunningunderhypogravityinwelltrainedrunnersandtriathletesabiomechanicalperspective