RUNNING ECONOMY IS A MULTIFACTORIAL PHENOMENON

Abstract

The purpose of this review was to describe economy of human locomotion, especially in running. Several factors such as age, sex, air resistance, body temperature, body weight, maximal aerobic capacity, muscle fibre distribution, vertical oscillation of the body, ground reaction forces and their directions, tendomuscular structure, training status, and fatigue have been demonstrated to affect running economy (RE). Although there exist interindividual differences in RE, training, especially strength and power training, improves RE to a certain degree. On the contrary, RE decreases in fatiguing conditions, but negative influences on RE can be minimizd by optimal training.