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How amazing is the energy consumption of human running? Why do you consume different energy at different speeds?
With the advancement of science and technology, more and more studies have revealed the mystery of human energy consumption during running. As we all know, running is a sport affected by many factors, and these factors directly affect our energy consumption while running, which is of great significance to the performance of athletes. Therefore, in-depth exploration of the impact of these factors has important implications for improving running efficiency and performance.
In most species, as running speed increases, so does the cost of energetic expenditure.
Human energy consumption issues are not limited to speed. Many factors, such as age, training status, stride length and frequency, shoe weight, wind resistance, and even air density can have a significant impact on the energy expenditure of running. For example, studies have shown that lighter running shoes can help athletes save energy during long-distance runs.
Quantifying the energy expenditure of running
Quantification of energy expenditure during running is typically accomplished by measuring oxygen consumption (VO2) at a given submaximal speed. In this way, energy expenditure can be estimated indirectly. An increase in VO2 generally means an increase in energy expenditure. In practice, the energy expenditure of exercise is often expressed as the rate of oxygen consumption relative to body weight (e.g., ml/kg/min).
This relationship is particularly evident during submaximal exercise, when speed reaches higher relative intensities, and VO2 measurements become less accurate predictors of energy expenditure because, under these conditions, the body relies primarily on anaerobic metabolism. To provide energy.Normally, there is a strong linear relationship between oxygen consumption rate and running speed, so as speed increases, so does energy expenditure.
Comparison of energy expenditure in running
The energy cost of running varies across species and is influenced by many factors. An earlier study showed that when animals of similar mass run the same distance, the energy costs are the same whether they are quadrupeds or bipeds. However, the cost of energy expenditure tends to decrease with increasing body weight, so that energy expenditure is generally lower in larger animals.
The researchers also theorized about the mechanics of movement, suggesting that smaller animals must take shorter, faster steps to propel themselves forward, so their feet spend less time in contact with the ground, forcing them to rely on The metabolically more expensive fast-twitch muscle fibers are used to generate thrust. In contrast, larger animals have more time to generate force and therefore do not have to recruit as many fast-twitch muscle fibers, which keeps their energy expenditure relatively low.
Running Economy
The energy expenditure of running varies greatly between people, even after accounting for body mass, suggesting that many other factors influence the energy expenditure of running. The concept of economy has therefore been proposed to assess the energy expended to meet aerobic demands under a given submaximal activity.
RU can be used to assess energy costs within an individual or to compare energy costs between groups of individuals.
In measuring running economy, energy expenditure at a fixed speed is usually compared, either measured as the rate of oxygen consumption or the rate of energy expenditure (such as calories). Studies show that trained athletes often burn less energy than untrained athletes, so they are more economical. This fact emphasizes the potential impact of continued training on improving RE.
Factors that affect running economy
In addition to training condition, many other factors affect running economy. For example, age, weight, gender, etc. may affect energy expenditure. Many studies have found that elite athletes generally have lower energy expenditure than other athletes. This suggests that RE may be an important indicator for assessing athletic performance, regardless of the athlete's level.
What else can we do to improve the efficiency of energy expenditure when it comes to running performance?
