mprevost
Level 7 Valued Member
While running, the musculoskeletal system of the body acts like a compressible shock absorber. When your foot makes contact with the ground you compress the shock. When you push off the spring energy of the shock augments muscular force to make you go faster. You spring forward. This spring effect augments muscular force.
The spring works best when it is stiff and there are no energy leaks. Our body spring works best when almost all of the loading is in the sagittal plane.
Movement in the coronal plane is not well tolerated by the body and generally results in energy leaks (energy that is not returned as spring energy during push off but is instead wasted). Coronal plane movements are most likely to cause pain and injury. Your body has several mechanisms to control coronal plane movement while running and when these fail, pathological compensations can occur. Horizontal plane movements are normal when running but should not be excessive. The single leg push off creates a rotation moment that results in some horizontal plane movement. This is countered by arm swing and core strength. Less core strength and hip control will necessitate more arm swing, which costs more energy and reduces run economy.
In the picture above you see a runner loading the 3 major running springs. All of these springs operate primarily in the saggital plane (fore and aft). The ankle, knee, and hip springs are created by loading of the gastroc/soleus, quadriceps, and gluteus muscles respectively.
Next we look at some energy leaks
The spring works best when it is stiff and there are no energy leaks. Our body spring works best when almost all of the loading is in the sagittal plane.
Movement in the coronal plane is not well tolerated by the body and generally results in energy leaks (energy that is not returned as spring energy during push off but is instead wasted). Coronal plane movements are most likely to cause pain and injury. Your body has several mechanisms to control coronal plane movement while running and when these fail, pathological compensations can occur. Horizontal plane movements are normal when running but should not be excessive. The single leg push off creates a rotation moment that results in some horizontal plane movement. This is countered by arm swing and core strength. Less core strength and hip control will necessitate more arm swing, which costs more energy and reduces run economy.
In the picture above you see a runner loading the 3 major running springs. All of these springs operate primarily in the saggital plane (fore and aft). The ankle, knee, and hip springs are created by loading of the gastroc/soleus, quadriceps, and gluteus muscles respectively.
Next we look at some energy leaks