Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Sci Rep. 2022 Mar 9;12(1):4193. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-07719-x.
Footwear midsole material can have a direct influence on running performance. However, the exact mechanism of improved performance remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if Achilles tendon energetics could potentially play a role in the performance improvements, by testing if changes in footwear midsole stiffness elicit changes in Achilles tendon stretch. Fourteen runners ran in two footwear conditions while kinematic, kinetic, metabolic and ultrasound data were recorded. There was a moderate positive correlation between the difference in stretch and the difference in performance, which was statistically significant (r(12) = 0.563, p = 0.036). Twelve participants had greater stretch and better performance in the same footwear condition. Based on stretch estimates, the difference between conditions in energy returned from the Achilles tendon was 3.9% of the mechanical energy required per step. Energy return of this magnitude would be relevant and could cause the improved performance observed. These results suggest that increasing energy returned from the Achilles could be a valid mechanism for improving running performance due to changes in footwear. These findings lead the way for future research to further understand internal mechanisms behind improved running performance.
鞋底材料会直接影响跑步表现。然而，其具体的性能提升机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在通过测试鞋底中底硬度的变化是否会引起跟腱拉伸的变化，来确定跟腱能量学是否可能在性能提升中发挥作用。14 名跑步者在两种鞋类条件下进行测试，同时记录运动学、动力学、代谢和超声数据。拉伸差异与表现差异之间存在中度正相关，具有统计学意义（r(12) = 0.563，p = 0.036）。12 名参与者在同一种鞋类条件下具有更大的拉伸和更好的表现。根据拉伸估计，跟腱返回的能量在两种条件下的差异为每步所需机械能量的 3.9%。这种幅度的能量回收是相关的，可能导致观察到的性能提升。这些结果表明，由于鞋类的变化，增加跟腱的能量回收可能是提高跑步表现的有效机制。这些发现为进一步了解提高跑步表现背后的内部机制的未来研究奠定了基础。
