Integrative Locomotion Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9258, USA.
Integrative Locomotion Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9258, USA.
J Sport Health Sci. 2022 May;11(3):285-292. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2021.07.002. Epub 2021 Jul 17.
This study aimed to determine the independent effect of the curved carbon-fiber plate in the Nike Vaporfly 4% shoe on running economy and running biomechanics.
Fifteen healthy male runners completed a metabolic protocol and a biomechanics protocol. In both protocols participants wore 2 different shoes, an intact Nike Vaporfly 4% (VF) and a cut Nike Vaporfly 4% (VF). The VF had 6 medio-lateral cuts through the carbon-fiber plate in the forefoot to reduce the effectiveness of the plate. In the metabolic protocol, participants ran at 14 km/h for 5 min, twice with each shoe, on a force-measuring treadmill while we measured metabolic rate. In the biomechanics protocol, participants ran across a runway with embedded force plates at 14 km/h. We calculated running economy, kinetics, and lower limb joint mechanics.
Running economy did not significantly differ between shoe conditions (on average, 0.55% ± 1.77% (mean ± SD)) worse in the VF compared to the VF; 95% confidence interval (-1.44% to 0.40%). Biomechanical differences were only found in the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint with increased MTP dorsiflexion angle, angular velocity, and negative power in the VF. Contact time was 1% longer in the VF.
Cutting the carbon-fiber plate and reducing the longitudinal bending stiffness did not have a significant effect on the energy savings in the Nike Vaporfly 4%. This suggests that the plate's stiffening effect on the MTP joint plays a limited role in the reported energy savings, and instead savings are likely from a combination and interaction of the foam, geometry, and plate.
本研究旨在确定 Nike Vaporfly 4% 鞋中弯曲碳纤维板对跑步经济性和跑步生物力学的独立影响。
15 名健康男性跑步者完成了代谢和生物力学方案。在这两个方案中，参与者穿着两种不同的鞋子，一种是完整的 Nike Vaporfly 4%（VF），另一种是切开的 Nike Vaporfly 4%（VF）。VF 在前脚的碳纤维板上有 6 个横-侧向切口，以降低板的有效性。在代谢方案中，参与者在测力跑步机上以 14km/h 的速度跑 5 分钟，每种鞋各跑两次，同时测量代谢率。在生物力学方案中，参与者以 14km/h 的速度在带有嵌入式测力板的跑道上跑步。我们计算了跑步经济性、动力学和下肢关节力学。
两种鞋的跑步经济性没有显著差异（平均而言，VF 比 VF 差 0.55%±1.77%（均值±标准差）；95%置信区间（-1.44%至 0.40%））。只有在跖趾关节（MTP）发现了生物力学差异，VF 中 MTP 背屈角度、角速度和负功率增加。VF 中的接触时间延长了 1%。
切割碳纤维板并降低纵向弯曲刚度对 Nike Vaporfly 4% 的能量节省没有显著影响。这表明板对 MTP 关节的增强作用在报告的能量节省中作用有限，而节省可能来自泡沫、几何形状和板的组合和相互作用。
