Jogging patterns of people reveal that runners who constantly register long distances experience more muscular changes and improved running efficiency, when compared to people that run low mileage.

Running Trials On High- And Low-Mileage Runners

The study was conducted by the scientists from Liverpool John Moores University, U.K. Adam C. Clansey, Jasper Verheul and Mark J. Lake made observations on two sets of runners that had been running for minimum of six months before the study. One group, called the "high mileage" group ran for more than 27 miles per week, while the other group, or the "low mileage group," ran for lesser than nine miles per week. The joggers ran tests at four different paces ranging from five to 12 miles per hour (mph).

The scientists regularly gauged the movement of knee joints and thigh muscles of the volunteers by combining electromyography (EMG), cameras capturing 3-D motion and a platform accounting speed and force.

"Given the importance of the knee joint in running, it was hoped that by examining knee joint stiffness and muscle activation levels across a range of running speeds, the adaptations of neuromuscular factors due to running training could be closely explored for the first time," the researchers said.

Leg Activity Comparison 

The knee joint and thigh muscles activities were measured and compared for both high and low mileage runners. It was found that, after landing, there was higher knee hardness and less muscle activity in the case of high mileage joggers as opposed to the low miles running joggers. The variation in the muscle movement increased with increasing the pace. A bouncy effect was noticed in the tendons of joggers of high mileage running group, which aided them to thrust their bodies forward more effectively.

The scientists noted that the hardness of the knee joint differed with variation of speeds in all the volunteers not only for safeguarding the knee against any possible injury from the force of landing, but also for running efficiently.

High Mileage Training Cuts Down Energy Outflow During Running

The researchers inferred that runners who cover more miles while running experience lesser energy outflow during subsequent runs. The high mileage training results in adaptations in the runners' tendons and muscles, which are boosted when they run faster.

The study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, has the details of the observations made by the researchers.