Collins, M. H., Pearsall, D. J., Zavorsky, G. S., Bateni, H., Turcotte, R. A., & Montgomery, D. L. (2000). Acute effects of intense interval training on running mechanics. Journal of Sports Science, 18, 83-90.

This study determined if there were any kinematic changes in running pattern after intense interval workouts, whether duration of recovery affected running kinematics, and whether changes in running economy were related to changes in running kinematics. Highly trained males (N = 7) performed three interval workouts (10 x 400m) with four days recovery between. Between-trial recovery periods of 60, 120, or 180 s for a session, were assigned at random. Before and after each workout, running economy and kinematic variables were measured at two speeds.

Speed was found to affect several kinematic variables in the leg actions (shank angle, knee velocity, stride length). VO2 and other kinematic variables were similar at both speeds. Duration of recovery did not affect running economy or kinematics.

Implication. Forms of interval training, employing different inter-trial recovery periods, did not affect the kinematics of running.

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