Time-course of running treadmill adaptation in novice treadmill runners

ABSTRACT

Studies on running biomechanics and energetics are usually conducted on a treadmill. To ensure that locomotion on a treadmill is comparable to locomotion overground, participants need to be expert in the use of the device. This study aimed to identify the number and duration of sessions needed to obtain stable measurements for spatiotemporal and metabolic parameters in unexperienced treadmill runners. Fourteen male recreational runners performed three 15-min treadmill running trials in different days at a submaximal speed. Spatiotemporal and metabolic parameters were registered at minutes: 5, 10, 15 and their within-trial and between-trial changes were analysed using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test. Within-trial differences were found in step frequency (decreased over time), Step Length and Contact Time (increased), reaching stability at different time points. Ventilator parameters increased, reaching stability after 5–10 min, while heart rate increased progressively over time. The only between-trial differences were an increase in step length and a decrease in step frequency at min 1, between trials 1 and 3. In conclusion, at least three running trials of 15 min are required to familiarize with the device. The last 5 min of the third trial can be regarded as stable measurements.

KEYWORDS:

• Treadmill
• treadmill running
• adaptation
• habituation
• familiarization

Author contribution statement

LS conceived and designed research, conducted experiments, analysed data and wrote the manuscript. GP designed research and conducted experiments. SP contributed with statistical expertise to analyse and interpret data and made a critical revision of the article for important intellectual content, FV conceived and designed research and made a critical revision of the article for important intellectual content, CM conceived and designed research, SP conceived and designed research, analysed data and wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.