Muscular strategy shift in human running: Dependence of running speed on hip and ankle muscle performance

TW Dorn; AG Schache; MG Pandy

Journal article

Muscular strategy shift in human running: Dependence of running speed on hip and ankle muscle performance

TW Dorn, AG Schache, MG Pandy

Journal of Experimental Biology | Published : 2012

DOI: 10.1242/jeb.064527

Abstract

Humans run faster by increasing a combination of stride length and stride frequency. In slow and medium-paced running, stride length is increased by exerting larger support forces during ground contact, whereas in fast running and sprinting, stride frequency is increased by swinging the legs more rapidly through the air. Many studies have investigated the mechanics of human running, yet little is known about how the individual leg muscles accelerate the joints and centre of mass during this task. The aim of this study was to describe and explain the synergistic actions of the individual leg muscles over a wide range of running speeds, from slow running to maximal sprinting. Experimental gait..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Marcus Pandy Author

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Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Victorian Endowment for Science Knowledge and Innovation Fellowship to M. G. P., Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grants [DP0772838 and DP0878705] to M. G. P. and an Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant [LP110100262] to A. G. S. and M.G.P.