EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVEL OF TREADMILL RUNNING ON THE BIOMECHANICAL WORK ECONOMY

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical work during running on a treadmill of different levels : 1- Horizontal Level (HL);2 - Downhill Level ( DL ) with -7.5%; and Graded Uphill Level (GUL) 7.5% grade. METHODS Ten long distance runners from the Jordanian national team served as participants in this study. They were homogeneous with regards to age (mean 22 + 2.3). weight (mean 60 + 2.8 kg), and level at their running performances. The mechanical efficiency (ME), heart rate (HR), distance (D), time (T), and biomechanical work (BW), were measured and reported during the run, after 7 min, 11 min, and at the end of the test when fatigue was reached for the three levels. One-Way ANOVA followed by Scheffe-test were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Results were varied among and between conditions in most variables. It is concluded however that the best (ME) was obtained during (HL) after 7; and 11 min than running at (GUL) and lor (DL). It is suggested, therefore, that in order for long distance runners to physiologically adapt to eccentric and concentric contraction during various impact on (DL) and (UL), a routine of this kind of training should be adopted so that biomechanical efficiency would be better even when running on (HL)