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First published online October 7, 2008
Journal of Experimental Biology 211, 3266-3271 (2008)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2008
doi: 10.1242/jeb.018812

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Running biomechanics: shorter heels, better economy

M. N. Scholz^1,*, M. F. Bobbert¹, A. J. van Soest¹, J. R. Clark² and J. van Heerden³

¹ Research Institute MOVE, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
² Institute of Sport Research, University of Pretoria, PO Box 14622, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa
³ School of Sport Science, Physiotherapy and Optometry, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Sport Sciences and Optometry, Private Bag X54001, Druban 4000, South Africa

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: m.scholz{at}fbw.vu.nl)

Accepted 7 July 2008

Better running economy (i.e. a lower rate of energy consumption at a given speed) is correlated with superior distance running performance. There is substantial variation in running economy, even among elite runners. This variation might be due to variation in the storage and reutilization of elastic energy in tendons. Using a simple musculoskeletal model, it was predicted that the amount of energy stored in a tendon during a given movement depends more critically on moment arm than on mechanical properties of the tendon, with the amount of stored energy increasing as the moment arm gets smaller. Assuming a link between elastic energy reutilization and overall metabolic cost of running, a smaller moment arm should therefore be associated with superior running economy. This prediction was confirmed experimentally in a group of 15 highly trained runners. The moment arm of the Achilles tendon was determined from standardized photographs of the ankle, using the position of anatomical landmarks. Running economy was measured as the rate of metabolic energy consumption during level treadmill running at a speed of 16 km h^–1. A strong correlation was found between the moment arm of the Achilles tendon and running economy. Smaller muscle moment arms correlated with lower rates of metabolic energy consumption (r²=0.75, P<0.001).

Key words: moment arm, tendon, elastic, energy, strain, stretch, long distance, runner, oxygen uptake

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