Swing limb biomechanics of 60- to 65-year-old male runners

Kinematic and kinetic magnitudes and timing of swing limb segments in five masters, 60–65 years of age, running near maximum speed were studied for differences in phasing. Subjects, including three young middle-distance runners, were filmed outdoors. Mastersʹ mean running speeds were about one-third less than the young adultsʹ (YA) being 5.93 ± 0.18 m s−1 vs. 9.35 ± 0.05 m s−1, respectively. It was confirmed that swing duration for masters was not different from YAs (P = 0.50), and that stance time was longer (P < 0.05). The swing limb was treated as two segments; thigh and shank-foot. Swing segment angular and linear kinematic and kinetic parameters were lower in peak magnitude for masters vs. young men (P < 0.05), but the position of the peaks in swing time was essentially the same. The magnitude differences are consistent with the lower running speeds. The timing similarity though unexpected, is in keeping with recent studies on skeletal muscle that do not indicate selective losses in muscle fiber types in conditioned performers. Rather it suggests that the older runnersʹ ability to adjust swing kinetic timing so as to contribute to maximum running speed remained intact.