The potential relationship between leg bone length and running performance in well-trained endurance runners

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the relationship between leg bone length and running performance in well-trained endurance runners. The lengths of the leg bones in 42 male endurance runners (age: 20.0 ± 1.0 years, body height: 169.6 ± 5.6 cm, body mass: 56.4 ± 5.1 kg, personal best 5000-m race time: 14 min 59 s ± 28 s) were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. The lengths of the femur and tibia were calculated to assess the upper and lower leg lengths, respectively. The total length of the femur + tibia was calculated to assess the overall leg bone length. These lengths of the leg bones were normalized with body height, which was measured using a stadiometer to minimize differences in body size among participants. The relative tibial length was significantly correlated with personal best 5000-m race time (r =-0.328, p = 0.034). Moreover, a trend towards significance was observed in the relative femoral length (r =-0.301, p = 0.053). Furthermore, the relative total lengths of the femur + tibia were significantly correlated with personal best 5000-m race time (r =-0.353, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that although the relationship between the leg bone length and personal best 5000-m race time was relatively minor, the leg bone length, especially of the tibia, may be a potential morphological factor for achieving superior running performance in well-trained endurance runners.