Running Mechanics During the World’s Most Challenging Mountain Ultramarathon

Degache, Francis; Morin, Jean-Benoı̂t; Oehen, Lukas; Guex, Kenny; Giardini, Guido; Schena, Federico; Millet, Guillaume Y.; Millet, Grégoire P.

doi:10.1123/ijspp.2015-0238

Cited by 42 publications

(50 citation statements)

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“…However, we tried to control that effect recording the kinematics data from 3 min into each condition, to give subjects time to be as comfortable as possible during the locomotion. Finally, even though an extreme MUM as the one from the present study leads to physiological, neuromuscular and mechanics alterations due to fatigue (e.g., Saugy et al, 2013; Vernillo et al, 2014b, 2015a; Degache et al, 2016), the non-inclusion of a control group may leave the present results susceptible to time or order effects. However, we believe that this study provides the opportunity to explore the adaptive responses of humans submitted to the extreme load and stress induced by a 330-km race with a cumulative elevation gain of +24,000 m but it must be seen as a first step toward comprehension of the physiological and biomechanics consequences of exercise as extreme as mountain ultra-marathons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…It has been previously shown that after completing a 166-km (Morin et al, 2011) and a 330-km (Degache et al, 2016) MUM the subjects modified their running step mechanics and spring-mass behavior, leading to a “smoother” and “safer” running style associated with an overall lower impact. These observations have also been reported after 5 h of hilly running (Degache et al, 2013) and an uphill marathon (Lazzer et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These observations have also been reported after 5 h of hilly running (Degache et al, 2013) and an uphill marathon (Lazzer et al, 2015). However, the pre-to-post evaluations in these studies were conducted under level running protocols in laboratory (Degache et al, 2013) or outdoor settings (Morin et al, 2011; Lazzer et al, 2015; Degache et al, 2016) in non-mountainous contexts that are non-ecological conditions for studying MUM (Vernillo et al, 2015c). With the aim to assess the consequences of participating in a MUM on the energy cost and kinematics of uphill locomotion, our laboratory recently showed that athletes in a fatigue state were still able to modify their uphill running pattern both after a 65-km (Vernillo et al, 2015c) and a 330-km (Vernillo et al, 2014b) MUM, with no change and a reduction (improvement) on the energy cost of uphill-running observed, respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Extreme Mountain Ultra-Marathon Decreases the Cost of Uphill Walking and Running

et al. 2016

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Purpose: To examine the effects of the world's most challenging mountain ultramarathon (MUM, 330 km, cumulative elevation gain of +24,000 m) on the energy cost and kinematics of different uphill gaits.Methods: Before (PRE) and immediately after (POST) the competition, 19 male athletes performed three submaximal 5-min treadmill exercise trials in a randomized order: walking at 5 km·h−1, +20%; running at 6 km·h−1, +15%; and running at 8 km·h−1, +10%. During the three trials, energy cost was assessed using an indirect calorimetry system and spatiotemporal gait parameters were acquired with a floor-level high-density photoelectric cells system.Results: The average time of the study participants to complete the MUM was 129 h 43 min 48 s (range: 107 h 29 min 24 s to 144 h 21 min 0 s). Energy costs in walking (−11.5 ± 5.5%, P < 0.001), as well as in the first (−7.2 ± 3.1%, P = 0.01) and second (−7.0 ± 3.9%, P = 0.02) running condition decreased between PRE and POST, with a reduction both in the heart rate (−11.3, −10.0, and −9.3%, respectively) and oxygen uptake only for the walking condition (−6.5%). No consistent and significant changes in the kinematics variables were detected (P-values from 0.10 to 0.96).Conclusion: Though fatigued after completing the MUM, the subjects were still able to maintain their uphill locomotion patterns noted at PRE. The decrease (improvement) in the energy costs was likely due to the prolonged and repetitive walking/running, reflecting a generic improvement in the mechanical efficiency of locomotion after ~130 h of uphill locomotion rather than constraints imposed by the activity on the musculoskeletal structure and function.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Extreme Mountain Ultra-Marathon Decreases the Cost of Uphill Walking and Running

et al. 2016

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“…However, the reverse may be true in response to slower velocity, longer duration running. Several studies have reported reductions in leg stiffness and minimal change in vertical stiffness following fatiguing protocols (Degache et al, 2016;Hayes and Caplan, 2014;Rabita, Couturier, Dorel, Hausswirth, & Le Meur, 2013;Rabita, Slawinski, Girard, Bignet, & Hausswirth, 2011).…”

Section: Running Gaitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lower limb stiffness testing in athletic performance: a critical review

Maloney

Fletcher

2018

Sports Biomechanics

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Stiffness describes the resistance of a body to deformation. In regard to athletic performance, a stiffer leg-spring would be expected to augment performance by increasing utilisation of elastic energy. Two-dimensional spring-mass and torsional spring models can be applied to model whole-body (vertical and/or leg stiffness) and joint stiffness. Various tasks have been used to characterise stiffness, including hopping, gait, jumping, sledge ergometry and change of direction tasks. Appropriate levels of reliability have been reported in most tasks, although they vary between investigations. Vertical stiffness has demonstrated the strongest reliability across tasks and may be more sensitive to changes in high-velocity running performance than leg stiffness. Joint stiffness demonstrates the weakest reliability, with ankle stiffness more reliable than knee stiffness. Determination of stiffness has typically necessitated force plate analyses; however, validated field-based equations permit determination of whole-body stiffness without force plates. Vertical, leg and joint stiffness measures have all demonstrated relationships with performance measures. Greater stiffness is typically demonstrated with increasing intensity (i.e., running velocity or hopping frequency). Greater stiffness is observed in athletes regularly subjecting the limb to high ground reaction forces (i.e., sprinters). Careful consideration should be given to the most appropriate assessment of stiffness on a team/individual basis.

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“…Fatigue-induced changes in running technique were previously observed after this eUT. 3,20 To avoid mechanical changes potentially biasing interpretation of the results, cycling was used to focus only on metabolic adaptations.…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of Ultratrail Running on Skeletal-Muscle Oxygenation Dynamics

Vernillo¹,

Brighenti²,

Limonta³

et al. 2017

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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The concentric and, particularly, the eccentric loads characterizing this extreme ultratrail-running bout may have led to variations in muscle structure and function, increasing the local muscle deoxygenation profile and the imbalance between O delivery to working muscles and muscle O consumption. This highlights the importance of incorporating graded training, particularly downhill bouts, to reduce the negative influence of concentric and severe eccentric loads to the microcirculatory function and to enhance the ability of runners to sustain such loading.

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Running Mechanics During the World’s Most Challenging Mountain Ultramarathon

Cited by 42 publications

References 28 publications

An Extreme Mountain Ultra-Marathon Decreases the Cost of Uphill Walking and Running

An Extreme Mountain Ultra-Marathon Decreases the Cost of Uphill Walking and Running

Lower limb stiffness testing in athletic performance: a critical review

Effects of Ultratrail Running on Skeletal-Muscle Oxygenation Dynamics

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