{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T21:04:31Z","timestamp":1785531871501,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,29]],"date-time":"2024-05-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1716940800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Running economy, commonly defined as the metabolic energy demand for a given submaximal running speed, is strongly associated with distance running performance. It is commonly believed among running coaches and runners that running with increased forward postural lean either from the ankle or waist improves running economy. However, recent biomechanical research suggests using a large forward postural lean during running may impair running economy due to increased demand on the leg muscles.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This study tests the effect of altering forward postural lean and lean strategy on running economy, kinematics, and muscle activity.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>16 healthy young adult runners (23\u00b15 years, 8M\/8F) ran on a motorized treadmill at 3.58m\/s using three postural lean angles [upright, moderate lean (50% of maximal lean angle), and maximal lean] and two strategies (lean from ankle and lean from waist [trunk lean]). Metabolic energy consumption, leg kinematics, and muscle activation data were recorded for all trials.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Regardless of lean strategy, running with an increased forward postural lean (up to 8\u00b12 degrees) increased metabolic cost (worsened economy) by 8% (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &lt; .001), increased hip flexion (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &lt; .001), and increased gluteus maximus (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> = .016) and biceps femoris (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> = .02) muscle activation during the stance phase. This relation between running economy and postural lean angle was similar between the ankle and trunk lean strategies (p = .743).<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec005\">\n<jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Running with a large forward postural lean reduced running economy and increased reliance on less efficient extensor leg muscles. In contrast, running with a more upright or moderate forward postural lean may be more energetically optimal, and lead to improved running performance.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0302249","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,29]],"date-time":"2024-05-29T17:24:46Z","timestamp":1717003486000},"page":"e0302249","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["The effect of forward postural lean on running economy, kinematics, and muscle activation"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Nina M.","family":"Carson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3694-7218","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Daniel H.","family":"Aslan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Justus D.","family":"Ortega","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,29]]},"reference":[{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0302249.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"469","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.2006.033548","article-title":"Incidence and determinants of lower extremity running injuries in long distance runners: a systematic review.","volume":"41","author":"RN van Gent","year":"2007","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med."},{"key":"pone.0302249.ref002","first-page":"323","volume-title":"ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running.","author":"D Dreyer","year":"2009"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0302249.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"434","DOI":"10.1080\/14763140701491625","article-title":"Runners do not push off the ground but fall forwards via a gravitational torque.","volume":"6","author":"N Romanov","year":"2007","journal-title":"Sports Biomech."},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0302249.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"672","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.00940.2017","article-title":"Use aerobic energy expenditure instead of oxygen uptake to quantify exercise intensity and predict endurance performance","volume":"125","author":"ON Beck","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Appl Physiol"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0302249.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"420","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-003-0926-z","article-title":"Factors limiting maximal performance in humans","volume":"90","author":"PE di Prampero","year":"2003","journal-title":"Eur J Appl Physiol"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0302249.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"345","DOI":"10.1249\/mss.0b013e31815a83dc","article-title":"Determinants of 800-m and 1500-m Running Performance Using Allometric Models.","volume":"40","author":"SA Ingham","year":"2008","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc."},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0302249.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"683","DOI":"10.1152\/jappl.1991.70.2.683","article-title":"Modeling: optimal marathon performance on the basis of physiological factors","volume":"70","author":"MJ Joyner","year":"1991","journal-title":"J Appl Physiol"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0302249.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"991","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0b013e3181c0669d","article-title":"Test of the Classic Model for Predicting Endurance Running Performance.","volume":"42","author":"JE Mclaughlin","year":"2010","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc."},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0302249.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"248","DOI":"10.1249\/00005768-197300540-00007","article-title":"Fractional utilization of the aerobic capacity during distance running.","volume":"5","author":"DL Costill","year":"1973","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc."},{"issue":"6281","key":"pone.0302249.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1038\/346265a0","article-title":"Energetics of running: a new perspective","volume":"346","author":"R Kram","year":"1990","journal-title":"Nature"},{"issue":"19","key":"pone.0302249.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2753","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.201.19.2753","article-title":"Energetics of bipedal running. 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