No description available.

In the sport of track and field, runners excel at their events due not only to physiological characteristics but aspects in their form. Characteristics in form help runners achieve the goal in completing their event in the least amount of time possible. For sprinters, this is done by having a shorter swing phase and ground time along with greater power and a longer stride length. Distance runners accomplish the goal of quicker speeds by balancing it with running economy by spending greater time on the ground with shorter stride lengths compared to those in shorter distance running events. Middle distance runners must find a balance between power and running economy for greater success in the 800 meter and 1600 meter runs. If these characteristics are true for runners while competing in their event, would they also be seen at speeds slower and faster than what they compete at? Purpose: This study was conducted to determine if sprinters, middle distance runners, and distance runners running at the same speeds would exhibit different characteristics in their form which aid them in their events. Methods: Thirty female Division I collegiate runners participated in this study. Runners were separated into categories based on the events they were currently training in: 10 sprinters, 10 middle distance runners, and 10 distance runners. All participants were asked to run for twenty two steps at 3.17 m/s (8:27 min/mile), 3.58 m/s (7:30 min/mile), 4.11 m/s (6.31 min/mile), 4.87 m/s (5:30 min/mile), and 5.95 m/s (4:30 min/mile) pace. Motion analysis was captured at each speed recording knee angles, ground time, center of mass separation, and stride length at 240 Hz. Data was then processed using ANOVA and a Tukey post hoc analysis. Results: Significant differences (p < .05) occurred between distance runners and the groups of middle distance runners and sprinters in knee range, ground time, center of mass separation, and stride length while running at the same speed for all of the five speeds. All groups displayed similar liner slopes as speeds increased with no interactions occurring between groups. As the speed increased, all three groups decreased in knee range measurements and ground time measurements. Increases in speed displayed and increase in center of mass separation and stride length among all three groups. Conclusion: While running at the same speeds, runners exhibit specific characteristics in their form that benefit them in their event. These are even seen in speeds that are faster or slower that what the athletes are used to training at or competing at. In addition, middle distance runners display aspects of form that are between distance runners and sprinters in all variables. By understanding these differences, coaches and athletes can analyze current performance and make needed adjustments.

No description available.

No description available.

Although a number of above-knee amputees have expressed a desire to participate in recreational activities involving running, no currently available lower limb prosthesis has proven adequate in allowing amputees to achieve a natural, efficient, one-to-one running gait. Until recently, amputee runners such as Terry Fox and Steve Fonyo have adopted a variety of asymmetrical gaits, although the Terry Fox Jogging Prosthesis has allowed some amputees to achieve an inefficient one-to-one running pattern. The objective is to design a conservative running prosthesis which will functionally imitate the intact limb during running activities. The prosthesis performance criteria were established for both stance and swing, based on an examination of non-amputee running biomechanics. The prosthesis incorporates a shank unit assembly which linearly compresses upon heel-strike, absorbing the impact energies in a helical coil compression spring, and then uses a ratchet device to store these impact energies throughout the stance phase. In late stance, the natural dorsi flexion of the prosthetic foot initiates the release of the stored energies, propelling the amputee upward and forward into the swing phase. It is recommended that a comprehensive biomechanical gait analysis be performed on the prosthesis' operation to allow for optimization of its configuration and performance. In conclusion, the features of this prosthesis will allow above-knee amputees to achieve a more natural, one-to-one running gait and participate more actively in activities involving running. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

In recent studies, caloric intakes among female distance runners were reported to be insufficient to support training intensities. To study energy intake and expenditure in female collegiate distance runners, ten members of the Virginia Tech cross-country team were utilized as subjects. / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / Sports Science / Master / Master of Science in Sports Science

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent of eating disorder symptoms and differences in exercise motivations in female distance runners at various exercise investment levels. One hundred and seven distance runners, aged 19 to 59 years, who run a minimum of five kilometers, three times per week, were asked to complete three questionnaires. The runners across exercise investment levels were not found to differ in Eating Disorder Inventory sub-scale scores. They differed from college women only in exhibiting fewer symptoms on Drive for Thinness (p < .05), Body Dissatisfaction (p < .001), and Interoceptive Awareness (p < .001). Significant differences in the Exercise Orientation Questionnaire sub-scale scores were found between the least and most exercise-invested runners with the latter scoring significantly higher on Exercise Orientation (P < .0001), Identity (p < .004), and Competition (p < .002). It was concluded that while eating disorder symptoms among female distance runners at various investment levels are no different, exercise motivations are different across levels of exercise.

Kiekviena sporto šaka turi savo specifinius komponentus, kurie atskleidžia tikrąsias vienos ar kitos sporto šakos ar rungties galimybes (Karoblis, 2005). Nustatyta, kad didelio meistriškumo maratono bėgikų ugdymas priklauso nuo daugelio veiksnių, iš kurių svarbiausias yra treniruotės vyksmo kryptingumas, jo valdymas, atsižvelgiant į sportininko organizmo adaptacijos prie treniruočių ir varžybų krūvių individualus ypatumas (Skernevičius, 1997; Milašius, 1997; Астранд, 1994). Didelio meistriškumo bėgikai į metus ruošiasi dviems maratonams. Todėl treniruočių proceso valdymas yra vienas iš sudėtingesnių. Tyrimo objektas: maratono bėgikų treniruotės ypatumai. Tyrimo tikslas: išanalizuoti Lietuvos didelio meistriškumo maratono bėgikų treniruotės ypatumus. Tiriamieji: daugiakartinis Lietuvos ilgųjų nuotolių bėgimo čempionas Marius Diliūnas, pasiekęs 15-ą maratono bėgimo rezultatą šalyje ir daugiakartinis ilgų distancijų bėgimo rungčių Lietuvos prizininkas Kęstutis Jankūnas, pasiekęs 20-ą maratono bėgimo rezultatą šalyje. Analizuojant sportininkų treniruočių planus (sportininko dienynus), trenerio pildomą krūvio apskaitos žurnalą buvo kreipiamas dėmesys į treniruočių krūvių intensyvumą, sportininkų pulso rodmenis. Mokslinių šaltinių studija parodė, kad ugdant ištvermę, svarbu pasirinkti tinkamą pratimų intensyvumą pagal planuojamą maratono rezultatą. / Each sports branch has its own specific components revealing true capacities of different sports branches or events (Karoblis, 2005). It has been found out that development of high performance marathon runners depends on many factors including the most important ones: purpose of the training proceeding, its control with regard to individual features of sportsman’s organism’s adaptation to training and race loads (Skernevičius, 1997; Milašius, 1997; Астранд, 1994). High performance runners are prepared for two marathons in a year. Therefore, control of the training process is one of the most complex. The research object: features of marathon runners’ training. The research aim: to analyse features of training of Lithuanian high mastership marathon runners. The surveyed: a many-times champion of long distance run in Lithuania, Marius Diliūnas, who has achieved the 15th result in marathon run in the country, and a prize winner of long distance run in Lithuania, Kęstutis Jankūnas, who has achieved the 20th result in marathon run in the country. When analysing plans of sportsmen training (sportsmen’s journals), the journal of trainer’s additional load accounting, attention was paid to intensity of training loads, indices of sportsmen’s pulse. The survey of scientific sources suggests that, when developing endurance, it is important to choose a proper intensity of exercises according to the planned result in marathon.

Background: The most common injuries in new or novice runners include medial tibial stress syndrome and patellofemoral pain syndrome; both overuse injuries. It is known that novice runners use a rearfoot strike pattern 98% of the time while running in traditional running footwear. Furthermore, footwear that is constructed with less cushioning (minimal shoes) and is said to promote forefoot running has increased in popularity. It is still unknown if novice runners convert their strike pattern in minimal shoes or continue to use a rearfoot strike pattern. Consequences of continuing to use a rearfoot strike pattern with less cushioning underfoot include higher vertical loading rates which are directly related to the types of injuries experienced. Aside from the strike pattern in a given shoe, movement stability is an important feature in healthy locomotion. There is a trade-off between being overly stable and being too unstable while running. It is known that the level of experience in running is related to the amount of stride length variability. It is still unknown if altering midsole stiffness has an effect on local dynamic stability while running. Purpose: The primary purpose of this thesis was to compare landing kinematics and kinetics between trained and novice runners in minimal and traditional shoes. The secondary purpose of this thesis was to examine the effect of running experience and midsole construction on local dynamic stability at the ankle, knee and hip. Methods: Twelve trained runners and twelve novice runners were recruited for participation. Four prototypical shoe conditions were tested with midsole geometry and material stiffness being manipulated. This yielded traditional/soft, traditional/hard, minimal/soft and minimal/hard shoe conditions. Participants ran down a 30m indoor runway which was instrumented with force platforms to measure vertical loading rates and motion capture cameras to capture landing kinematics. Participants also ran on a treadmill in each shoe condition to allow for local dynamic stability to be estimated at the ankle, knee and hip in the sagittal plane. Results: Novice runners landed with increased knee extension compared to trained runners. Increasing midsole thickness of the shoes caused an increase in dorsi-flexion of the ankle at heel strike. Manipulating material stiffness did not influence landing kinematics but did influence kinetics. Furthermore, decreasing material stiffness lowered vertical loading rates. Trained runners exhibited increased local dynamic stability (more stable) at the ankle, knee and hip compared to novice runners. Local dynamic stability was not affected by midsole stiffness. Conclusions: Novice runners did not alter their strike pattern in minimally constructed shoes. For this reason, cushioning properties of the shoe dictated vertical loading rates upon the body. Shoe conditions did not alter landing kinematics above the ankle, which is where the between group differences existed as novice runners landed with a more extended knee. Running experience appears to play a role in knee orientation at landing and is unaffected by shoe condition. Local dynamic stability was affected by running experience and does not appear to be related to the shoe condition being worn. Even when kinematics changed across shoe conditions, the stability of the movement did not.