Mechanical Work and Long-Distance Performance Prediction: the Influence of Allometric Scaling

• Authors: Marcus Peikriszwili Tartaruga , Jeanick Brisswalter , Carlos Bolli Mota , Cristine Lima Alberton , Natalia Andrea Gomeñuka , Leonardo Alexandre Peyré-Tartaruga
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of allometric scaling on the relationship between mechanical work and long-distance running performance in recreational runners. Fourteen recreational long-distance runners (male, mean ± SD - age: 29 ± 7 years; body mass: 70.0 ± 10.2 kg; body height: 1.71 ± 0.07 m; maximal oxygen uptake: VO2max 52.0 ± 4.9 ml·kg-1·min-1) performed two tests: a continuous incremental test to volitional exhaustion in order to determine VO2max, and a 6-minute running submaximal test at 3.1 m·s-1, during which segments in the sagittal plane were recorded using a digital camera and the internal (Wint), external (Wext) and total (Wtot) mechanic work, in J.kg-1·m-1, was subsequently calculated. The results indicated a significant correlation between mechanical work and performance, however, the strongest correlations were observed when allometric exponents were used (respectively for Wint, Wext and Wtot; non allometric vs. allometric scaling defined by literature (0.75) or determined mathematically (0.49): r = 0.38 vs. r = 0.44 and r = 0.50; r = 0.80 vs. r = 0.83 and r = 0.82; r = 0.70 vs. r = 0.77 and r = 0.78). These results indicate that mechanical work could be used as a predictor of recreational long-distance performance and an allometric model may improve this prediction.

Keywords

EN

allometry; body size; cost of running; human locomotion; mechanical efficiency; running economy; allometry; body size; cost of running; human locomotion; mechanical efficiency; running economy

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Journal of Human Kinetics
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 38
• Pages: 73-82

Dates

published

1 - 09 - 2013

online

08 - 10 - 2013

Contributors

author

Marcus Peikriszwili Tartaruga

• Midwest State University of Paraná, LABIER, Guarapuava, Brazil
• Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, LAPEX, Porto Alegre, Brazil
• University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, LAMHESS, Nice, France

author

Jeanick Brisswalter

• University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, LAMHESS, Nice, France

author

Carlos Bolli Mota

• Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, LAPEX, Porto Alegre, Brazil
• Federal University of Santa Maria, Laboratory of Biomechanics, Santa Maria, Brazil

author

Cristine Lima Alberton

• Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, LAPEX, Porto Alegre, Brazil
• Federal University of Pelotas, School of Physical Education, Pelotas, Brazil

author

Natalia Andrea Gomeñuka

• Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, LAPEX, Porto Alegre, Brazil

author

Leonardo Alexandre Peyré-Tartaruga

• Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, LAPEX, Porto Alegre, Brazil

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/hukin-2013-0047