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Can the Kinematics of arm movements be trained to improve Running Economy? |
A recent study (Kumar & Verma, 2011) published in “The Anthropologist – International Journal of Contemporary and Applied Studies of Man” has shown a strict correlation between the performance time of a 3000 m run and the effects of a 90 days conditioning programme on the shoulder swing time. 50 adult males, aged between 18 and 24 years, physical active and free from any medical issue, have been selected to follow a conditioning programme of 90 days, divided into two mesocycles of 45 days each. The first mesocycle consisted of exercises targeted to improve static flexibility and cardio-respiratory endurance. The second mesocycle included those exercises which could improve dynamic flexibility, muscular strength and endurance. It has been concluded that “the three months conditioning programme has revealed statistically significant impact on right and left shoulder swing time, ratio of right and left shoulder swing time and performance time of a 3000 m run. These improvements reasonably suggest that the conditioning programme has caused a process of self-optimization of biomechanical aspects of running style to develop such a movement pattern which act as a fine tuning device to both energy expenditure and performance and thus improved performance time of 3000m running”.
Pretty interesting, isn’t it? If you’ve ever thought that Running Economy can’t be improved, you probably were wrong.
The full article can be downloaded here.
Keep on training, people!
REFERENCES
<!–[if supportFields]>ADDIN Mendeley Bibliography CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY <![endif]–>Kumar, A., & Verma, S. K. (2011). Kinematic Analysis of Arm Movements in 3000m Running: Before and After a Conditioning Programme. Anthropologist, 13(3), 211–216.
Here you can find a list of my running-related posts. Now shut down the notebook and have a run!
Science and Training:
- How to publish your Garmin training data to other services with “tapiriik”
- Heel-to-toe drop: meaning and measurement
- Garmin, Polar and WTEK: heart rate sensors comparison
- What is training load?
- Runner’s performance evaluation – Part 1: the VO2max.
- Runner’s performance evaluation – Part 2: Carbs, Fats and Proteins as Energy for living.
- Runner’s performance evaluation – Part 3: Energy expenditure during running.
- Motivation for training: two inspirational speeches by John Doman.
- A pseudo-“Conconi test” to predict the anaerobic threshold
- Running at 4000 m: the hypoxic chamber
- Forest steeplechase training
- Snowy workout in the forest
- 2013 Track & Field season – Chronicle of a Steeplechase year
- 2012 Track & Field season – Chronicle of a Steeplechase year
- My 2011 in numbers – Happy new year!
- Omni-Lite ceramic track spikes
Races:
- 7th Airport Run Berlin: second place and PB
- A good way to end the year
- Cone-Project presents: “Emozioniadi” 2012
- Tough Guy: the safest most dangerous event in the world
- 24th Lauf im Britzer Garten: a good pre-season test.
- 32nd Pankower Frühlingslauf
- BIG 25 Berlin 2012: a new World Record!
- The hardest 400 m of the World: the “Red Bull 400”
- Trail running in the dark: 4^ Notturna di Sant’Antonio – Miane (TV), Italy
- Talkin’ blues: when XC meets life. Offene Berlin-Brandenburgische Crossmeisterschaften
- “Non Solo Sport Race” – Padova, 28th August 2011
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