Mechanical Efficiency, Energetic Cost and Mechanical Work in the Human Running

This study aims at correlate Wmec and Cr with Eff. Twelve healthy men volunteered in the study. Wmec and Cr were measured during a treadmill running test which consisted in a rest period, incremental warm up and running test at 10km.h -1 . The biomechanical data, rest oxygen consumption (VO2) and exercise VO2 data were obtained. Relationships between variables were investigated using Pearson’s product–moment correlation coefficient (α<0.05). The results demonstrated a strong significant correlation only between Eff and Wmec (r =0.67). Meanwhile, the correlations between Eff and Cr (r=-0.55), and Wmec with Cr (r=0.22) were not significant. Therefore, it’s believed that Eff of running is mainly influenced by Wmec instead of Cr. Furthermore, it seems that the energy cost has greater influence of intrinsic factors (as the muscle force generation) and not only by the production of movement.