A cinematographic analysis of overground and treadmill running by males and females

Abstract

Cinematography was used to biomechanically compare individually selected overground jogging and running velocities with equated treadmill jogging and running by adult males and females. All subjects were regular joggers but not competitive track or cross-country runners. No significant differences were recorded in stride length, stride rate, support time or non-support time for males or females when jogging at velocities of between 3.33 and 4.78 m/s (x̄ = 3.70) or 3.45 and 4.80 m/s (x̄ = 3.97) respectively. However, it was demonstrated that at velocities of 4.82 – 6.2 m/s for males (x̄ = 5.41) and 4.85 – 5.76 m/s for females (x̄ = 5.29) significant differences did occur between overground and treadmill running. For both males and females stride length decreased, stride rate increased, and the period of non-support was also significantly less when running on a treadmill as compared to running overground.