Muscle power factors and VO_2max as determinants of horizontal and uphill running performance

Authors: Paavolainen, L.; Nummela, A.; Rusko, H.

Source: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, Volume 10, Number 5, October 2000 , pp. 286-291(6)

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Abstract:

This study was carried out to investigate the importance of maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) and so-called muscle power factors relating to neuromuscular and anaerobic characteristics as determinants of peak horizontal and uphill treadmill running velocity (V_max). Muscle power factors were measured as peak velocity (V_MART) and blood lactate concentration (Bla_MART) in a maximal anaerobic running test and as maximal 30-m run velocity (V_30m). Seven middle-distance runners, eight triathletes and eight cross-country skiers performed an incremental VO_2max-test at horizontal (subscript max0) and 7° uphill (subscript max7) and the MART at 3° uphill on a treadmill and V_30m-test on a track. The MART consisted of n · 20-s runs with a 100-s recovery between the runs and the velocity was increased by 0.41 m · s⁻¹ for each consecutive run until exhaustion. At 0° V_max was significantly higher but VO_2max, ventilation and Bla were significantly lower than at 7° inclination. V_max0 correlated with V_MART (r=0.85, P<0.001), Bla_max0 (r=0.49, P<0.05) and V_30m (r=0.78, P<0.001) but not with VO_2max0. V_max7 correlated with VO_2max7 (r=0.78, P<0.001), V_MART (r=0.61, P<0.01) and V_30m (r=0.53, P<0.05). V_MART correlated with Bla_MART (r=0.71, P<0.01) and V_30m (r=0.96, P<0.001) but not with VO_2max0 or VO_2max7. Middle-distance runners had a significantly (P<0.001) higher V_max0, V_MART, Bla_MART and V_30m than triathletes and cross-country skiers, but no significant differences were found between the three groups in VO_2max0, VO_2max7 or V_max7. We conclude that so-called muscle power factors, e.g. V_MART, V_30m and Bla_MART, contribute to peak treadmill running performance and especially to horizontal running performance and that VO_2max contributes more to uphill than horizontal running performance.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2000-10-01