title: Constraint-led changes in internal variability in running.
abstract: We investigated the effect of a one-time application of elastic constraints on movement-inherent variability during treadmill running. Eleven males ran two 35-min intervals while surface EMG was measured. In one of two 35-min intervals, after 10 min of running without tubes, elastic tubes (between hip and heels) were attached, followed by another 5 min of running without tubes. To assess variability, stride-to-stride iEMG variability was calculated. Significant increases in variability (36 % to 74 %) were observed during tube running, whereas running without tubes after the tube running block showed no significant differences. Results show that elastic tubes affect variability on a muscular level despite the constant environmental conditions and underline the nervous system's adaptability to cope with somehow unpredictable constraints since stride duration was unaltered.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haudum
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birklbauer
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kröll
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Müller
keywords: Electromyography; adaptation; performance