Mechanical work in running

Cavagna, G; Saibene, F.; Margaria, R

doi:10.1152/jappl.1964.19.2.249

Cited by 514 publications

(329 citation statements)

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“…It has been shown that the physical musculoskeletal elastic components of the leg (tendons, ligaments, and muscles) are used to minimize metabolic cost while running (1,2,(8)(9)(10). However, no one, to date, has related the performance enhancements of running on surfaces of different stiffnesses to metabolic cost.…”

Section: In Their Groundbreaking Work Mcmahon and Greenementioning

confidence: 99%

Energetics and mechanics of human running on surfaces of different stiffnesses

Kerdok

Biewener

McMahon

et al. 2002

Journal of Applied Physiology

305

246

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. Energetics and mechanics of human running on surfaces of different stiffnesses. J Appl Physiol 92: 469-478, 2002; 10.1152/ japplphysiol.01164.2000.-Mammals use the elastic components in their legs (principally tendons, ligaments, and muscles) to run economically, while maintaining consistent support mechanics across various surfaces. To examine how leg stiffness and metabolic cost are affected by changes in substrate stiffness, we built experimental platforms with adjustable stiffness to fit on a force-plate-fitted treadmill. Eight male subjects [mean body mass: 74.4 Ϯ 7.1 (SD) kg; leg length: 0.96 Ϯ 0.05 m] ran at 3.7 m/s over five different surface stiffnesses (75.4, 97.5, 216.8, 454.2, and 945.7 kN/m). Metabolic, ground-reaction force, and kinematic data were collected. The 12.5-fold decrease in surface stiffness resulted in a 12% decrease in the runner's metabolic rate and a 29% increase in their leg stiffness. The runner's support mechanics remained essentially unchanged. These results indicate that surface stiffness affects running economy without affecting running support mechanics. We postulate that an increased energy rebound from the compliant surfaces studied contributes to the enhanced running economy. biomechanics; locomotion; leg stiffness; metabolic rate IN THEIR GROUNDBREAKING work, McMahon and Greene (29) investigated the effects of surface stiffness (k surf ) on running mechanics. Their study sought to determine whether it was possible to build a track surface that would enhance performance and decrease injury. Their work showed that a range of k surf values existed over which a runner's performance was enhanced by decreasing foot-ground contact time (t c ), decreasing the initial spike in peak vertical ground reaction force (f peak ), and increasing stride length. Tracks built within this enhanced performance range at Harvard University, Yale University, and Madison Square Garden have been shown to increase running speeds by 2-3% and to decrease running injuries by 50% (29). Despite the success of these "tuned tracks," the mechanisms underlying the performance enhancement are not clearly understood.A major assumption of McMahon and Greene's (29) was that the running leg and surface could be represented as a simple spring and mass (Fig.

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Section: In Their Groundbreaking Work Mcmahon and Greenementioning

confidence: 99%

Energetics and mechanics of human running on surfaces of different stiffnesses

Kerdok

Biewener

McMahon

et al. 2002

Journal of Applied Physiology

305

246

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An almost sinusoidal pattern of the ground reaction force is observed in many types of fast animal and human locomotion (Cavagna et al, 1964(Cavagna et al, , 1977Alexander et al, 1986;Full et al, 1991;Farley et al, 1993). Although this includes both energy production (muscle fibers) and absorption (soft tissue, ligaments, muscles) the leg stiffness is surprisingly constant during the stance time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A movement criterion for running

Seyfarth

Geyer

Günther

et al. 2002

Journal of Biomechanics

427

382

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The adjustment of the leg during running was addressed using a spring-mass model with a fixed landing angle of attack. The objective was to obtain periodic movement patterns. Spring-like running was monitored by a one-dimensional stride-to-stride mapping of the apex height to identify mechanically stable fixed points.We found that for certain angles of attack, the system becomes self-stabilized if the leg stiffness was properly adjusted and a minimum running speed was exceeded. At a given speed, running techniques fulfilling a stable movement pattern are characterized by an almost constant maximum leg force. With increasing speed, the leg adjustment becomes less critical. The techniques predicted for stable running are in agreement with experimental studies.Mechanically self-stabilized running requires a spring-like leg operation, a minimum running speed and a proper adjustment of leg stiffness and angle of attack. These conditions can be considered as a movement criterion for running. r

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“…During running, there is little energy saved by pendular-energy conservation because the gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy of the COM fluctuate in phase. Instead, the spring-like properties of muscles and tendons in the stance phase of running result in an exchange between the kinetic energy of the COM and the elastic energy stored in these tissues (Cavagna et al 1964(Cavagna et al , 1977Ker et al 1987;Roberts et al 1997). At fast speeds, when the inverted-pendulum mechanism of walking is impaired, this bouncing gait provides a highly effective means of reducing the metabolic cost of locomotion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gait selection in the ostrich: mechanical and metabolic characteristics of walking and running with and without an aerial phase

Rubenson

Heliams²,

Lloyd

et al. 2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

174

259

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It has been argued that minimization of metabolic-energy costs is a primary determinant of gait selection in terrestrial animals. This view is based predominantly on data from humans and horses, which have been shown to choose the most economical gait (walking, running, galloping) for any given speed. It is not certain whether a minimization of metabolic costs is associated with the selection of other prevalent forms of terrestrial gaits, such as grounded running (a widespread gait in birds). Using biomechanical and metabolic measurements of four ostriches moving on a treadmill over a range of speeds from 0.8 to 6.7 m s -1 , we reveal here that the selection of walking or grounded running at intermediate speeds also favours a reduction in the metabolic cost of locomotion. This gait transition is characterized by a shift in locomotor kinetics from an inverted-pendulum gait to a bouncing gait that lacks an aerial phase. By contrast, when the ostrich adopts an aerial-running gait at faster speeds, there are no abrupt transitions in mechanical parameters or in the metabolic cost of locomotion. These data suggest a continuum between grounded and aerial running, indicating that they belong to the same locomotor paradigm.

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Mechanical work in running

Cited by 514 publications

References 0 publications

Energetics and mechanics of human running on surfaces of different stiffnesses

Energetics and mechanics of human running on surfaces of different stiffnesses

A movement criterion for running

Gait selection in the ostrich: mechanical and metabolic characteristics of walking and running with and without an aerial phase

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