Running speed and slope effects on spatiotemporal parameters and running technology in male and female recreational runners

This study investigates the effects of speed and incline on spatiotemporal parameters (SPT) and performance-related parameters (PRT) in male and female recreational runners from the perspective of biomechanics. It aims to uncover the underlying biomechanical mechanisms governing human running motion under different conditions. 37 healthy adults (18 males and 19 females) who regularly performed running exercises were recruited as research participants. The speed test included five speeds (8, 9, 10, 11, 12 km/h), each for 1 min with 1-min rest intervals (9 min total). The incline test was at 10 km/h with inclines of 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%, each for 1 min with 1-min rest intervals (7 min total). Video was captured at 240 fps, with sampling times of 45 s to 1 min. A mixed-design two-way ANOVA assessed the effects of speed on spatiotemporal and technique variables with gender interactions. From a biomechanical standpoint, changes in speed can significantly impact the runners’ stride length and stride frequency. Faster speeds typically require greater muscular force generation and coordination, which in turn can affect the spatiotemporal characteristics of running. The results showed that there were significant differences between genders and speeds in PRT, but no significant differences in SPT. This could be attributed to the varying physiological and biomechanical characteristics between males and females. Males generally possess greater muscle mass and strength, which may allow them to generate more power at higher speeds, resulting in different performance-related parameter values. There were no significant differences between genders and slopes in SPT and PRT. These findings corroborate previous studies and provide a deeper understanding of SPT and PRT characteristics in male and female runners. Future research should explore differences across various populations and include downhill running to understand gender differences in running performance fully. Downhill running involves different biomechanical challenges, such as increased knee flexion and eccentric muscle contractions, which may lead to distinct performance differences between genders. By expanding the scope of research in this way, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the biomechanics of human running.