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Is There an Economical Running Technique? A Review of Modifiable Biomechanical Factors Affecting Running Economy

Overview of attention for article published in Sports Medicine, January 2016
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About this Attention Score

  • In the top 5% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric
  • High Attention Score compared to outputs of the same age (99th percentile)
  • High Attention Score compared to outputs of the same age and source (95th percentile)

Mentioned by

news
16 news outlets
twitter
317 X users
facebook
14 Facebook pages
video
3 YouTube creators

Citations

dimensions_citation
236 Dimensions

Readers on

mendeley
1109 Mendeley
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1 CiteULike
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Title
Is There an Economical Running Technique? A Review of Modifiable Biomechanical Factors Affecting Running Economy
Published in
Sports Medicine, January 2016
DOI 10.1007/s40279-016-0474-4
Pubmed ID
Authors

Isabel S. Moore

Abstract

Running economy (RE) has a strong relationship with running performance, and modifiable running biomechanics are a determining factor of RE. The purposes of this review were to (1) examine the intrinsic and extrinsic modifiable biomechanical factors affecting RE; (2) assess training-induced changes in RE and running biomechanics; (3) evaluate whether an economical running technique can be recommended and; (4) discuss potential areas for future research. Based on current evidence, the intrinsic factors that appeared beneficial for RE were using a preferred stride length range, which allows for stride length deviations up to 3 % shorter than preferred stride length; lower vertical oscillation; greater leg stiffness; low lower limb moment of inertia; less leg extension at toe-off; larger stride angles; alignment of the ground reaction force and leg axis during propulsion; maintaining arm swing; low thigh antagonist-agonist muscular coactivation; and low activation of lower limb muscles during propulsion. Extrinsic factors associated with a better RE were a firm, compliant shoe-surface interaction and being barefoot or wearing lightweight shoes. Several other modifiable biomechanical factors presented inconsistent relationships with RE. Running biomechanics during ground contact appeared to play an important role, specifically those during propulsion. Therefore, this phase has the strongest direct links with RE. Recurring methodological problems exist within the literature, such as cross-comparisons, assessing variables in isolation, and acute to short-term interventions. Therefore, recommending a general economical running technique should be approached with caution. Future work should focus on interdisciplinary longitudinal investigations combining RE, kinematics, kinetics, and neuromuscular and anatomical aspects, as well as applying a synergistic approach to understanding the role of kinetics.

X Demographics

X Demographics

The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 317 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 1,109 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Spain 4 <1%
United States 3 <1%
Germany 1 <1%
France 1 <1%
Brazil 1 <1%
South Africa 1 <1%
Turkey 1 <1%
New Zealand 1 <1%
Chile 1 <1%
Other 2 <1%
Unknown 1093 99%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Master 209 19%
Student > Bachelor 164 15%
Student > Ph. D. Student 119 11%
Researcher 95 9%
Student > Postgraduate 53 5%
Other 190 17%
Unknown 279 25%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Sports and Recreations 441 40%
Medicine and Dentistry 114 10%
Nursing and Health Professions 76 7%
Engineering 50 5%
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 24 2%
Other 74 7%
Unknown 330 30%
Attention Score in Context

Attention Score in Context

This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 336. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 08 March 2024.
All research outputs
#100,706
of 25,844,183 outputs
Outputs from Sports Medicine
#83
of 2,901 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#1,664
of 408,273 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Sports Medicine
#3
of 65 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 25,844,183 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done particularly well and is in the 99th percentile: it's in the top 5% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 2,901 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 57.5. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 97% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 408,273 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 99% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 65 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 95% of its contemporaries.