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Cited by 126Lower Extremity Biomechanics and PathologiesSports Performance and TrainingCardiovascular and exercise physiology

Effects of independently altering body weight and body mass on the metabolic cost of running

Teunissen, Lennart P. J., Grabowski, Alena, Kram, Rodger·2007·Journal of Experimental Biology
DOI 10.1242/jeb.004481
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Abstract

The metabolic cost of running is substantial, despite the savings from elastic energy storage and return. Previous studies suggest that generating vertical force to support body weight and horizontal forces to brake and propel body mass are the major determinants of the metabolic cost of running. In the present study, we investigated how independently altering body weight and body mass affects the metabolic cost of running. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that reducing body weight would decrease metabolic rate proportionally, and adding mass and weight would increase metabolic rate proportionally. Further, because previous studies show that adding mass alone does not affect the forces generated on the ground, we hypothesized that adding mass alone would have no substantial effect on metabolic rate. We manipulated the body weight and body mass of 10 recreational human runners and measured their metabolic rates while they ran at 3 m s(-1). We reduced weight using a harness system, increased mass and weight using lead worn about the waist, and increased mass alone using a combination of weight support and added load. We found that net metabolic rate decreased in less than direct proportion to reduced body weight, increased in slightly more than direct proportion to added load (added mass and weight), and was not substantially different from normal running with added mass alone. Adding mass alone was not an effective method for determining the metabolic cost attributable to braking/propelling body mass. Runners loaded with mass alone did not generate greater vertical or horizontal impulses and their metabolic costs did not substantially differ from those of normal running. Our results show that generating force to support body weight is the primary determinant of the metabolic cost of running. Extrapolating our reduced weight data to zero weight suggests that supporting body weight comprises at most 74% of the net cost of running. However, 74% is probably an overestimate of the metabolic demand of body weight to support itself because in reduced gravity conditions decrements in horizontal impulse accompanied decrements in vertical impulse.

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  • Teunissen et al. (2007) found extremely large effects during running while Grabowski et al. (2005) reported a small effect during walking in 0.25 g compared to 1 g.

    “Teunissen et al. (2007) found extremely large effects during running while data from Grabowski et al. (2005) reported a small effect during walking in 0.25 g compared to 1 g.”

    From Human Biomechanical and Cardiopulmonary Responses to Partial Gravity – A Systematic Review (2017) · cites this paper as Teunissen et al. (2007)

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Authors
Teunissen, L. P. J., Grabowski, A., & Kram, R.
Affiliations
University of Colorado Boulder (US)
Corresponding author
Kram, Rodger
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Experimental Biology
Publisher
The Company of Biologists
Published
2007-12-15
Volume
210
Issue
24
Pages
4418-4427
ISSN
  • 0022-0949 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-9145
DOI
10.1242/jeb.004481
OpenAlex
W2131554000
Cited by
126
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
FWCI
2.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Experimental Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
metabolic cost of running, body weight, body mass, vertical impulse, horizontal impulse, elastic energy storage, metabolic rate, reduced gravity
MeSH terms
Adult, Body Weight, Energy Metabolism, Female, Humans, Male, Running, Time Factors, Walking, Weight-Bearing, Hypogravity

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