Running is a common form of physical activity and the most prevalent form of movement in sports, which has always been an important part of track and field competitions. To successfully compete in distance running, one must pay attention to running economy, which is partly comprised of running technique (RT). Running technique is also important in terms of preventing running injuries.
In our experiment we studied running technique effect on running economy (RE) and designed a running technique quality grading system based on video analysis. We formed descriptive criteria for grading individual running technique kinematic variables. The experiment included 15 athletes of both genders (age 24 ± 9 let; body height 171,7 ± 8,2 cm; body weight 65,3 ± 10,3 kg), various running experience, various training status (VO2max 52,3 ± 5,3 ml/min/kg) and of different primary sports.
Athletes were measured for anthropometric characteristics and then performed a Nowacki running test (warm up 2 x 3 min (0 % incline, 7 and 8 km/h speed); test until exhaustion (2 % slope, starting speed 8 km/h, speed increase 1 km/h/min)). During the test we measured gas exchange (Quark CPET) and determined VO2max, RE (kcal/min/kgFFM) and anaerobic threshold speed (vanp) by V-slope method. We video recorded running technique with 2 iPhone smartphones (one from the side and one from the back at pelvis height) at 240 fps and 720p resolution. Individual kinematic variables quality from video reordings at vanp was evaluated by 5 licensed coaches with grades from 1 (worst) to 3 (best). Based on the coaches' evaluations, we later developed descriptive criteria for assessing the quality of individual running technique parameters.
We found that VO2max, vanp and RE explained 82,6 % of running quality variance and that running technique quality was only in a lesser degree linked with RE (-0,127 (p = 0,653)), which is comprised of multiple factors. Assessing running technique with video analysis and with individual kinematic variable grading showed as appropriate and reliable, as coaches' grades were quite uniform (Cronbach Alpha 0,874). We also found that there is not one ideal running technique due to individual differences between runners. Running technique assessment and correction should therefore be done holistically and carefully. Due to small sample size and study design, we propose to test the findings and to refine the descriptive criteria on a larger sample of athletes and coaches.
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