Inter-subjects Running Dynamic Similarities in Men

and Women
N. Delattrea, M. A. Lafortuneb, P. Morettoa
a
Laboratoire d’Etudes de la Motricité Humaine, Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université de Lille 2, France.
b
Nike Sport Research Laboratory, Beaverton, Oregon 97005, USA
pierre.moretto@univ-lille2.fr

Abstract — The aim of this study is to test the validity of Froude

number (NFr) or Strouhal number (Str) to determine inter-
subjects similar running patterns. Twenty male and eighteen
female subjects ran barefoot on a runway equipped with a force
platform. The running tests were performed in three
experimental conditions. C0: all subjects ran at the same absolute
velocity V=3.5 m.s-1; C1: the velocity was determined from the
NFr ; C2: the stride frequency was determined from Str. In both
men and women, the use of Strouhal number (C2) allowed
obtaining the best correlations between anthropometric and
kinetic similarity ratios i.e. the best dynamic similarities.
However, it appears that the determination of similar dynamic
running conditions needs to be specified in order to take leg
stiffness into account. The simultaneous use of Froude and
Strouhal numbers could bring better results in this way.
Keywords - running; locomotor pattern; spring-mass model;
similarities
I. INTRODUCTION
In Human and Animal, scientific literature abounds of
studies based on the locomotor patterns comparison of
individuals of different sizes. In determining the same absolute
velocity for all subjects, some studies don’t take
anthropometric differences in account. The dynamic similarity
concept allows explaining that individuals of different sizes
who are not running at the same absolute velocity can present
similar movements. Indeed, a study [1] showed that animals of
very different sizes move in remarkably similar fashion. These
authors particularly showed that the transition between one
locomotion mode to the other appears at the same ratio for
different species. This ratio is called Froude number:
V2
N fr =
g.L
where V is the velocity of the center of gravity (Cg), L the leg
length, and g the gravitational acceleration. In 1992, Alexander
presented the inverted pendulum model to illustrate the
locomotion (Fig. 1). The total body mass is reported to the Cg,
which oscillates at the extremity of a segment symbolizing the
leg. When centrifugal acceleration (V²/L) becomes greater than
gravitational acceleration (g), the Cg of the subject takes off,
illustrating the disappearance of double contact phase and the
transition between walking and running.
Figure 1. Modelling of walking to running transition (Alexander, 1992).
V2 V2
In these conditions, ≥ g or ≥ 1 ⇔ N Fr ≥ 1
L gL
This transition corresponds to a Nfr fraction equal to 1.
Because similarities exist at the walk-to-run transition, authors
suggested that similarities could be observed for lower (walk)
or higher (run) Nfr fractions. Several studies [2, 3] showed that
determining walking velocities from Nfr fractions lower than 1
allowed observing locomotor patterns similarities determining
inter-subjects similar dynamic conditions.
Dynamic similarity concept is with the movement study
what the geometrical similarity concept is with the form study:
two shapes are geometrically similar if one can be made
identical to the other by multiplying all lengths by the same
factor called similarity factor. Considering that subjects who
are anthropometrically different are also proportional, it exists
a “k” ratio (k = L2/L1) between S1 and S2 subjects’ L1 and L2
segments. Similarity “k” ratio is identical whatever the
considered segment. This approach also considers that S1 and
S2 subjects’ density are identical. Thus, body segment masses
are proportional to a k3 ratio. These ratios defined the length
[L] and mass [M] basic dimension ratios k and k3, respectively.
Nevertheless, dynamic similarity concept requires a time
dimension ratio (λ) between two subjects. When two subjects
velocities are determined from a Nfr fraction, the time ratio is :
λ=k0,5.
However, running patterns study has not been performed at
speeds determined from Nfr fractions higher than 1. Indeed,
under running condition, Humans and Animals seem to bounce
on the ground, and contrarily to walking, the Cg reaches his
lower point in the middle of contact phase [4]. During the
contact phase, muscles, tendons and ligaments behave like
springs. Globally, this springs complex acts as one only linear
spring, representing subject’s leg. This can be described by the
spring-mass model (Fig. 2).

Acknowledgment: This study was supported by Nike (Oregon, USA).

 C. Protocol
Men and women performed the running tests under three
experimental conditions:
- Condition 0 (C0):
The same absolute velocity V=3.5m.s-1 is imposed to all
subjects. The step frequencies (fi), leg lengths and velocity
enable us to compute a mean Nfr and Str numbers observed in
C0 condition. Mean Str and Nfr were thus used to determine
C1 and C2 conditions.
- Condition 1 (C1):

Figure 2. Spring-mass model for running

Each subject “i” ran at his own velocity VNfr i determined
from Froude number: VNfr i = Nfr.g .Li
During running, human body can be considered as a
mechanic system composed of a mass joined to a spring. The - Condition 2 (C2):
spring-mass model is commonly used for running and allows
introducing natural oscillation frequency (f0) of the system. Each subject ran at his own step frequency Fstr i determined
f .L Str.V
Strouhal number ( Str = 0 ) is the dimensionless from Strouhal number: FStr i =
V Li
frequency. Str can theoretically be used to determine similar
step frequencies of two subjects [6] while determining a k0,5 This procedure allowed comparing the three conditions
time ratio. while the subjects ran in mean at the same Nfr and Str
numbers.
Some studies [2, 3, 5, 6] have already been devoted to
similar velocities determination from Nfr. They showed
D. Data processing
kinematic and baropodometric similarities between subjects
walking at different Nfr fractions but they interested only in The force platform output signal is sampled at 1 kHz. The
walking or walk–to-run transition. vertical ground reaction force curve (Fz) is analysed to check
the contact time (CT); the active peak (Peak); the time to active
Locomotor patterns study of subjects running in dynamic peak (TP); the loading rate (LR) between 10 and 90% of Fz
similar conditions has never been performed using Strouhal peak; and the vertical impulse (Iz).
number to determine similar step frequencies. The aim of this
study is to compare kinetic data similarities recorded using a The similarity ratio (k) was computed from each measured
force platform during different running tests performed under parameter. The subjects were classified by order of increasing
different similar conditions determined from Nfr and Str leg length. The similarity ratios were computed for each
fraction. subject pair combination with reversed ratios avoided. Hence,
the number of similarity ratios rose to 190 in men and 153 in
women. If dynamic conditions are similar, following equality
II. METHODS
must be verified:
A. Population kL = kWeight = kCT = ... = kIz
Twenty male and eighteen female subjects were selected
for this study. Their mean age, body mass and height were 23 Thus for two S1 and S2 subjects:
(SD 8) years, 1.78 (SD 0.06) meters and 68.5 (SD 7.05)
kilograms in men, and 27 (SD 9) years, 1.63 (SD 0.04) meters 1
2
2
and 57.1 (SD 5.7) kilograms in women. These subjects were L1  Weight 1  3  CT1   Iz 7
volunteer, healthy, and regular runners. =   =   = ... =  1 
L2  Weigh 2   CT2   Iz 2 
B. Apparatus
Subjects ran on a runway equipped with a Kistler force E. Statistical analysis
platform sampled at 1 kHz and covered by an EVA foam. This An analysis of variance (ANOVA) allowed studying the
foam allowed us to mask the force platform location and experimental conditions effect on parameters. A repeated factor
ANOVA allowed highlighting an interaction between factors.
allowed them to run barefoot in order to avoid a shoes type
For each condition, a repeated factor ANOVA was realized in
effect on measurements. The subjects’ velocity is controlled
order to identify significant interactions between ratios. An
( ± 0.05 m.s-1) by two photoelectric cells. Under Str inter-ratios correlation analysis (Fisher’s r to “z”) was realized
conditions, the step frequency is imposed using an electronic so as to specify analysis. Significance threshold was fixed to
metronome, ( ± 0.01 cycle.s-1). P<0.05 for ANOVA, and P<0.01 for Fisher’s test.
 III. RESULTS
Results in men and women are presented for each condition
in Tab. 1. Exposed correlations are exclusively significant
correlation between anthropometric and kinetic ratios. Results
are showed according to the weight, L (leg length) and CT
(contact time) in order to appreciate results in relation to
fundamental dimensions of mass [M], length [L] and time [T]
respectively.
A minimal value of r=0.7 (r²=0.5) was considered as
satisfying to test the assumption of the “k” ratio equalities i.e.
dynamic similarity existences.
TABLE I. SIGNIFICANT* CORRELATIONS BETWEEN KWEIGHT, KL, KCT AND
THE SPATIO-TEMPORAL RATIOS IN MEN AND WOMEN.
allowed obtaining as much similarities as the use the same
absolute velocity (condition 0) (3 significant correlations). The
use of Froude number didn’t seem to allow obtaining more
similarities (2 significant correlations) than the use of the same
absolute velocity (3 significant correlations).
However, from a qualitative viewpoint, mean correlations
obtained with Strouhal number were greater (r=0.859, [0.811-
0.886]) than with the same absolute velocity (r=0.776, [0.732-
0.844]) and than with the Froude number (r=0.729, [0.727-
0.732]).
The dynamic similar conditions determination from
Strouhal number thus appeared to be the best method
(quantitatively and qualitatively) to obtain inter-subjects
similarities in men.

Men
Condition 0 Condition 1 Condition 2 In women, the number of similarities was the same in each
experimental condition (conditions 0, 1 and 2) (2 significant
Weight L CT Weight L CT Weight L CT
correlations). The use of Strouhal number or Froude number
Height 0.595
didn’t seem to allow obtaining more similarities than with the
Weight use of the same absolute velocity.
L 0.292
However, from a qualitative viewpoint, Strouhal number
CT
was the best condition since it allowed obtaining mean
TP 0.732 0.727 0.295 0.880
similarity of r=0.914 [0.913-0.915], where mean r=0.900
Peak 0.754 -0.301 .694 -0.459 0.444 -0.688
[0.890-0.911] with the same absolute velocity, and mean
LR 0.568 -0.547 0.416 -0.656 -0.811 r=0.895 [0.893-0.897] with the Froude number.
Iz 0.844 0.732 0.886 0.519 0.340
The dynamic similar conditions determined from Strouhal
number also appeared to be the best method to obtain inter-
subjects similarities in women.
Women
Condition 0 Condition 1 Condition 2
These results showed an interest at using the Strouhal
number for the determination of inter-subjects running
Weight L CT Weight L CT Weight L CT
dynamic similar in men and women. Taking into account the
Height 0.386 0.629
leg elastic characteristics allowed observing similar running
Weight individuals’ behaviour according to [7, 8, 9, 10].
L
Nevertheless, with the sight of results, it appeared that, in
CT -0.398
men, the parameters were mainly proportional to the contact
TP 0.382 0.672
time (CT), whereas in women, similarities are principally to the
Peak 0.890 -0.381 0.893 -0.407 0.915 -0.552
weight. So, it seemed that dynamic similar conditions imposed
LR 0.488 -0.433 0.610 0.477 in this study revealed different behaviours in relation to
Iz 0.911 0.897 0.913 genders: men’s pattern is mainly organised in accordance with
*: P<0.01; L: leg length; CT: contact time; TP: time to peak; peak: passive peak; LR: loading rate; Iz: time dimension respect, while women’s pattern are principally
vertical impulse; grayed values: correlations superior to the best anthropometric correlation (0.595 in
men. 0.629 in women).
organised to manage the mass. This difference in the pattern
organisation is probably due to leg stiffness differences
between the two genders.
IV. DISCUSSION A gender difference in leg stiffness has already been
observed during hopping tasks [11]. These authors showed that
The aim of this study was to verify that the dynamic similar women’s leg stiffness represented about 77% of that of the
conditions determined from Froude number or from Strouhal men. Moreover, it has been showed that vertical ground
number allowed obtaining better similarities than using the reaction force depends on masses and vertical velocities [12].
same absolute velocity for all subjects. These last can be estimated by the spring-mass model, and
A condition was considered to be the best if it allowed depends on the step frequency and musculo-squeletal stiffness.
obtaining a greater number of similarities (quantitative aspect), Thus, in our study, the difference in musculo-squeletal stiffness
and if it allowed obtaining the greater mean correlation could explain the differences between men and women. It
(qualitative aspect). seemed necessary to take leg stiffness into account for the
dynamic similar conditions determination.
In men, when taking only correlations superior to r=0.7
(r²=0.5) into account, the use of Strouhal number (condition 2)
 Furthermore, it has been suggested that dynamic similar
conditions are respected whether subjects run with the same
Froude number and the same Strouhal number [5]. The number
of similarities observed could be more important with the
determination of dynamic similar conditions including Froude
number and Strouhal number simultaneously. However, it
seems that confusion exists on the simultaneous use of Froude
and Strouhal numbers, sometimes gathered under the term of
“Groucho number” which is disputable.
Future investigations should be conducted to clarify the
meaning of the “Groucho number” and to determine inter-
subjects similar dynamic running conditions from
dimensionless numbers taking the leg stiffness into account.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: THIS STUDY HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY

NIKE (OREGON, USA).

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