title: Influence of training, sex, age and body mass on the energy cost of running.
abstract: To highlight the influences of age, sex, body mass (mb) and running training on the energy cost of running (Cr) young basketball players [38 boys (BB) and 14 girls (BG), aged 14.2 (SD 0.3) and 12.2 (SD 1.9) years, respectively] were selected to be compared to middle-distance runners [27 men (MR) and 14 women (FR) aged 23.7 (SD 3.4) and 23.9 (SD 4.1) years, respectively]. The Cr was measured during a maximal treadmill test. In each group Cr and body mass (mb) and body height were negatively and significantly correlated. A stepwise regression showed that among both the body dimensions measured, mb was the most important factor in determining the variations of Cr. For the whole group (n = 93) the correlation coefficient was 0.72 (P < 0.0001). For a given mb, there was no significant difference between the Cr of BG, BB and MR: this result would support the hypothesis that the differences in Cr currently attributed to age, running training or sex differences are mainly related to mb. On the other hand, for a given mb, FR showed a significantly lower Cr than the basketball players (P < 0.01 for BG and BB) and than MR (P < 0.05), thus suggesting that women decrease their Cr as a response to running training more efficiently than do men.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie-GIP Exercise, Faculté Médecine Lyon-sud, Oullins, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bourdin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pastene
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Germain
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lacour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001490:Basketball; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D012420:Running; D012727:Sex Characteristics