Energy cost and kinematics of level, uphill and downhill running: fatigue-induced changes after a mountain ultramarathon.
This study aimed to determine whether the fatigue induced by a mountain ultramarathon (MUM) led to changes in energy cost and kinematic during level and graded running. Pre- and post-race, 14 ultratrail runners ran on a level, uphill (5%) and downhill (5%) treadmill at 10 km · h(-1). Kinematic data were acquired using a photocell system. Post-race, the downhill energy cost increased by 13.1% (P < 0.001). No change was noted in level and uphill running. Duty factor and stride frequency were increased, whereas swing time, cycle time and stride length were decreased in all conditions (P < 0.05). Contact time was increased and the rate of force generation was decreased only in the uphill and downhill conditions (P < 0.05). Positive correlations were observed between performance time and the pre- to post-changes in the energy cost of level (r = 0.52, P = 0.04) and uphill running (r = 0.50, P = 0.04). MUM-induced fatigue resulted in physiological and spatiotemporal changes, though the response to fatigue varied considerably between running conditions. These changes resulted in a significant increment only in the downhill energy cost. Incorporating downhill locomotion in the training programmes of ultratrailers may help to improve performance-related physiological and biomechanical parameters.
a Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy.|c CeRiSM, Research Center "Sport, Mountain and Health" , Università degli Studi di Verona , Rovereto , ( TN ), Italy.
Gianluca
G
Vernillo
c CeRiSM, Research Center "Sport, Mountain and Health" , Università degli Studi di Verona , Rovereto , ( TN ), Italy.
Aldo
A
Savoldelli
b Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences , Università degli Studi di Verona , Verona , Italy.|c CeRiSM, Research Center "Sport, Mountain and Health" , Università degli Studi di Verona , Rovereto , ( TN ), Italy.
Andrea
A
Zignoli
d Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences , Università degli Studi di Bologna , Bologna , Italy.
Spyros
S
Skafidas
c CeRiSM, Research Center "Sport, Mountain and Health" , Università degli Studi di Verona , Rovereto , ( TN ), Italy.
Alessandro
A
Fornasiero
a Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy.
Antonio
A
La Torre
b Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences , Università degli Studi di Verona , Verona , Italy.|c CeRiSM, Research Center "Sport, Mountain and Health" , Università degli Studi di Verona , Rovereto , ( TN ), Italy.
Lorenzo
L
Bortolan
b Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences , Università degli Studi di Verona , Verona , Italy.|c CeRiSM, Research Center "Sport, Mountain and Health" , Università degli Studi di Verona , Rovereto , ( TN ), Italy.
Barbara
B
Pellegrini
b Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences , Università degli Studi di Verona , Verona , Italy.|c CeRiSM, Research Center "Sport, Mountain and Health" , Università degli Studi di Verona , Rovereto , ( TN ), Italy.
Federico
F
Schena
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*
energy cost; fatigue; kinematic; performance; running; ultraendurance