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Cited by 465Sports Performance and TrainingCardiovascular and exercise physiologyLower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies

Running economy: Measurement, norms, and determining factors

Open access
Barnes, Kyle R, Kilding, Andrew E·2015·Sports Medicine - Open
DOI 10.1186/s40798-015-0007-yPMC PMC4555089
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Abstract

Running economy (RE) is considered an important physiological measure for endurance athletes, especially distance runners. This review considers 1) how RE is defined and measured and 2) physiological and biomechanical factors that determine or influence RE. It is difficult to accurately ascertain what is good, average, and poor RE between athletes and studies due to variation in protocols, gas-analysis systems, and data averaging techniques. However, representative RE values for different caliber of male and female runners can be identified from existing literature with mostly clear delineations in oxygen uptake across a range of speeds in moderately and highly trained and elite runners. Despite being simple to measure and acceptably reliable, it is evident that RE is a complex, multifactorial concept that reflects the integrated composite of a variety of metabolic, cardiorespiratory, biomechanical and neuromuscular characteristics that are unique to the individual. Metabolic efficiency refers to the utilization of available energy to facilitate optimal performance, whereas cardiopulmonary efficiency refers to a reduced work output for the processes related to oxygen transport and utilization. Biomechanical and neuromuscular characteristics refer to the interaction between the neural and musculoskeletal systems and their ability to convert power output into translocation and therefore performance. Of the numerous metabolic, cardiopulmonary, biomechanical and neuromuscular characteristics contributing to RE, many of these are able to adapt through training or other interventions resulting in improved RE.

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. [21]Daniels JT Scardina N Hayes J Foley P Landers DM Elite and subelite female middle- and long-distance runners The 1984 Olympic Scientific Conference Proceedings 1986 Champaign, IL Human Kinetics 57 72
  2. [59]Daniels JT Foster C Daniels S Krahenbuhl G Altitude and human performance with special consideration of the aerobic demands of running 1977 Orlando, Florida Proceedings of the NCPEAM/NAPECW National Conference 61 7
  3. [103]Williams K Cavanagh PR Biomechanical correlates with running economy in elite distance runners 1986 Montreal Proceedings of the North American Congress on Biomechanics 287 8
  4. [231]Daniels JT Scardina N Foley P Bachl N Prokop L Suckert R VO2max during five modes of exercise Proceedings of the World Congress on Sports Medicine 1984 Vienna Urban & Schwartzenberg 604 15

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Authors
Barnes, K. R., & Kilding, A. E.
Affiliations
Auckland University of Technology (NZ)
Corresponding author
Barnes, Kyle R
ORCID
Venue
Sports Medicine - Open
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2015-03-27
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
8-8
ISSN
  • 2198-9761 (ISSN-L)
  • 2199-1170
DOI
10.1186/s40798-015-0007-y
PMC
PMC4555089
OpenAlex
W2166690729
Cited by
465
References
237
Citations by year
2026: 60 · 2025: 75 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 2
FWCI
25.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Sports Medicine - Open (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
Keywords
running economy, oxygen consumption, endurance athletes, long-distance running, metabolic efficiency, biomechanical factors, neuromuscular factors, training effects

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