An Examination of a Morphological, Cardiorespiratory and Biomechanical Model of Endurance Running Performance

Carlson, John Stanley

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Description

Title

An Examination of a Morphological, Cardiorespiratory and Biomechanical Model of Endurance Running Performance

Author(s)

Carlson, John Stanley

Issue Date

1980

Department of Study

Physical Education

Discipline

Physical Education

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

Education, Physical

Language

eng

Abstract

• The purpose of this study was to determine the relative contributions that selected morphological, cardiorespiratory and biomechanical measures make in accounting for individual differences in endurance running performance of trained adult recreational runners. It was hypothesized that (1) cardiorespiratory function is the major determinant of endurance running performance, and (2) that selected morphological and biomechanical measures add significantly, yet independently to the prediction of endurance running performance. A theoretical model of endurance running performance was constructed which was composed of the factors hypothesized to be the major determinants of endurance running performance. Construction of the model was based upon the underlying assumption that endurance performance is a result of the direct, indirect and interacting influences of body size, composition and structure, cardiorespiratory function and running mechanic factors.
• The subjects in this study were 48 well trained endurance runners aged 20 through 35 years, from the University of Illinois and Champaign-Urbana communities. During the study the following measures were obtained on each subject: body size (height, weight, lower limb length); body composition (% fat, FFW); body structure (height ('3)SQRT.(weight, height/lower limb length); maximal cardiorespiratory function (oxygen intake); submaximal cardiorespiratory function (oxygen intake, % VO(,2) max, cardiac output); running mechanics (stride length, stride rate, time of support and time of non support) and two measures of endurance running performance (20 minute distance run and an all-out treadmill run).
• Initially multiple regression analyses were performed, separately, on the three primary factors of the model (morphological, cardiorespiratory and biomechanical) to determine from within these factors which variables best predict endurance running performance. Height/('3)SQRT.(weight and % fat were the measures selected to represent body composition and structure. VO(,2) max in ml/min(.)kg BW or ml/min(.)kg FFW, cardiac output or stroke volume and % VO(,2) max were the most important measures of those selected to represent the cardiorespiratory factor in the model. Finally, stride length and stride rate were significant determinants of endurance performance representative of the biomechanics factors.
• Multiple regression techniques were employed and equations developed in which % fat, height/('3)SQRT.(weight, VO(,2) max (ml/min(.)kg BW or ml/min(.)kg FFW) % VO(,2) max, submax cardiac output or stoke volume and stride length were identified as determinants of performance on the 20 minute endurance run. These nine independent variables accounted for 73.9% of the variance in the 20 minute distance run. Prediction equations were also developed identifying % fat, height/('3)SQRT.(weight, VO(,2) max (ml/min(.)kg BW or ml/min(.)kg FFW), % VO(,2) max and stride length as determinants of endurance performance in the all-out treadmill run. These seven indepdent variables accounted for 70.6 to 72.3% of the variance in the all-out treadmill performance time. Examination of the magnitude of the standardized regression coefficients indicated that VO(,2) max (ml/min(.)kg BW or FFW), stride length and % fat, in that order, were the most important determinants of both endurance running performance measures.
• It was concluded that selected cardiorespiratory, body size, composition and structure and biomechanics variables contribute significantly to endurance running performance in trained adult recreational runners. As hypothesized, the degree of the contribution of the cardiorespiratory measures as determinants of endurance performance was greater than the contributions of the body size, composition and structure and running mechanics variables.

Graduation Semester

1980

Type of Resource

text

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