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STRIDE LENGTH/STRIDE FREQUENCY RATIO REMAINS CONSTANT UNDER DIFFERENT RUNNING CONDITIONS

Abstract

L. Reisch, C. Hixson, S. Ferguson, S. McCloughan, M. Conners, C. Kilborn, A. D. Gidley

Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

Running kinematics are different when running on a level surface compared to on an incline. Additionally, each individual has his or her own preferred stride frequency, and most often this stride frequency is not energetically optimal but is something close. PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to quantify the interaction between stride frequency and surface incline at preferred running speeds with natural stride frequencies and at a controlled stride frequency. METHODS: 12 participants of varying running experience (6 males and 6 females; 18-22 years old) participated in this study. Participants ran 5, 20-second trials on both a level and inclined road section. They then repeated these trials with a controlled stride frequency: 5% higher than their average preferred stride frequency. While running, each participant wore small data collection pods (RunScribe) from which several variables were recorded (Pace (PA), Stride Length (SL), Contact Time (CT), Flight Time (FT), Pace, Step Rate (SR), Footstrike (FS), Braking (BR), Impact (IM), Leg Stiffness (LS), Leg Vertical Stiffness (LVS), Vertical GRF Rate (VGRF), Horizontal GRF Rate (HGRF), and pelvic variables: Maximum Rotation (XR), Minimum Rotation (NR), Maximum Obliquity (XO), Minimum Obliquity (NO), Minimum tilt (NT), Maximum tilt (AT)). A repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare preferred and controlled stride frequency trials on the two surfaces for all variables (α=.05). RESULTS: SL, PA, SR, FS, BR, LS, LVS, VGRF, HGRF were all significantly greater in the controlled stride frequency trials than in the preferred stride frequency trials on flat ground (p

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