Does Characterizing Global Running Pattern Help to Prescribe Individualized Strength Training in Recreational Runners?

Aurélien Patoz; Bastiaan Breine; Adrien Thouvenot; Laurent Mourot; Cyrille Gindre; Thibault Lussiana

doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.631637

Does Characterizing Global Running Pattern Help to Prescribe Individualized Strength Training in Recreational Runners?

Front Physiol. 2021 Mar 17:12:631637. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.631637. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Aurélien Patoz^{1

2}, Bastiaan Breine^{2

3}, Adrien Thouvenot^{4

5}, Laurent Mourot^{5

6}, Cyrille Gindre^{2

4}, Thibault Lussiana^{2

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
² Research and Development Department, Volodalen Swiss Sportlab, Aigle, Switzerland.
³ Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
⁴ Research and Development Department, Volodalen, Chavéria, France.
⁵ Research Unit EA3920 Prognostic Markers and Regulatory Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases and Exercise Performance, Health, Innovation Platform, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
⁶ Division for Physical Education, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine if concurrent endurance and strength training that matches the global running pattern would be more effective in increasing running economy (RE) than non-matched training. The global running pattern of 37 recreational runners was determined using the Volodalen^® method as being aerial (AER) or terrestrial (TER). Strength training consisted of endurance running training and either plyometric (PLY) or dynamic weight training (DWT). Runners were randomly assigned to a matched (n = 18; DWT for TER, PLY for AER) or non-matched (n = 19; DWT for AER, PLY for TER) 8 weeks concurrent training program. RE, maximal oxygen uptake V̇O₂max) and peak treadmill speed at V̇O₂max (PTS) were measured before and after the training intervention. None of the tested performance related variables depicted a significant group effect or interaction effect between training and grouping (p ≥ 0.436). However, a significant increase in RE, V̇O₂max, and PTS (p ≤ 0.003) was found after the training intervention. No difference in number of responders between matched and non-matched groups was observed for any of the performance related variables (p ≥ 0.248). In recreational runners, prescribing PLT or DWT according to the global running pattern of individuals, in addition to endurance training, did not lead to greater improvements in RE.

Keywords: concurrent training; dynamic weight training; plyometric training; running; sports biomechanics.