ReviewSports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2016
Is There an Economical Running Technique? A Review of Modifiable Biomechanical Factors Affecting Running Economy.
Review in Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 122 papers, 12 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
122 citing papers in PubMed, 12 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 353 citations in OpenAlex.
- The independent effects of isolated high-intensity interval training modalities on body composition and adiposity indices in overweight or obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Pooled it
- Inconsistent Effects of Experience on Running Biomechanics May be Influenced by Study Heterogeneity and Classification Criteria: a Systematic Review and Proposal of a Revised Taxonomy.Sports medicine - open · 2025Pooled it
- Acute and Chronic Effects of Stretching on Running Economy: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.Sports medicine - open · 2025Pooled it
- Association Between Inter-Limb Asymmetry and Determinants of Middle- and Long-distance Running Performance in Healthy Populations: A Systematic Review.Sports medicine - open · 2024Pooled it
- The Biomechanical Influence of Step Width on Typical Locomotor Activities: A Systematic Review.Sports medicine - open · 2024Pooled it
- The Relationship Between Running Biomechanics and Running Economy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2024Pooled it
- What is the Effect of Changing Running Step Rate on Injury, Performance and Biomechanics? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Sports medicine - open · 2022Pooled it
- Sex-specific differences in biomechanics among runners: A systematic review with meta-analysis.Frontiers in physiology · 2022Pooled it
- Running economy and lower extremity stiffness in endurance runners: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in physiology · 2022Pooled it
- Effects of Wearable Devices with Biofeedback on Biomechanical Performance of Running-A Systematic Review.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2020Pooled it
- What are the Benefits and Risks Associated with Changing Foot Strike Pattern During Running? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Injury, Running Economy, and Biomechanics.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2020Pooled it
- Effects of Strength Training on the Physiological Determinants of Middle- and Long-Distance Running Performance: A Systematic Review.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2018Pooled it
- Comparative Effects of Sand- and Grass-Based Repeated-Sprint Training on Aerobic and Anaerobic Performance in Soccer Players.Journal of sports science & medicine · 2026Trial
- Effects of pre-exercise glycerol supplementation on dehydration, metabolic, kinematic, and thermographic variables in international race walkers.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2024Trial
- The Effect of Different Cadence on Paddling Gross Efficiency and Economy in Stand-Up Paddle Boarding.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Trial
- Trial
- Mind to Move: A Narrative Review of Individualized Running Biomechanics Beyond the Spring-Mass Model.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Review
- Perspective: A head-to-toe view on athletic locomotion with an emphasis on assessing core stability.Sports medicine and health science · 2026Article
- Stiffness and Running Performance: From the Tissue to the Body: A Narrative Review.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Review
- Are the Forces and Lower Limb Kinematics Displayed During Running Associated with Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome? A Case-Control and Case Study.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2026Article
62 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Running economy (RE) has a strong relationship with running performance, and modifiable running biomechanics are a determining factor of RE. The purposes of this review were to (1) examine the intrinsic and extrinsic modifiable biomechanical factors affecting RE; (2) assess training-induced changes in RE and running biomechanics; (3) evaluate whether an economical running technique can be recommended and; (4) discuss potential areas for future research. Based on current evidence, the intrinsic factors that appeared beneficial for RE were using a preferred stride length range, which allows for stride length deviations up to 3 % shorter than preferred stride length; lower vertical oscillation; greater leg stiffness; low lower limb moment of inertia; less leg extension at toe-off; larger stride angles; alignment of the ground reaction force and leg axis during propulsion; maintaining arm swing; low thigh antagonist-agonist muscular coactivation; and low activation of lower limb muscles during propulsion. Extrinsic factors associated with a better RE were a firm, compliant shoe-surface interaction and being barefoot or wearing lightweight shoes. Several other modifiable biomechanical factors presented inconsistent relationships with RE. Running biomechanics during ground contact appeared to play an important role, specifically those during propulsion. Therefore, this phase has the strongest direct links with RE. Recurring methodological problems exist within the literature, such as cross-comparisons, assessing variables in isolation, and acute to short-term interventions. Therefore, recommending a general economical running technique should be approached with caution. Future work should focus on interdisciplinary longitudinal investigations combining RE, kinematics, kinetics, and neuromuscular and anatomical aspects, as well as applying a synergistic approach to understanding the role of kinetics.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.