What is muscle elasticity? If you were to stretch a muscle you would see it shrink back a bit. In plain words, it’s a natural ability to recover to original form upon the removal of the force initially applied. In physical activity it is the ability of muscles to perform work, specifically, to contract rapidly after and immediately prior to extension. A human body is a mix of physics, geometry, psychology and all that good stuff, so we should not talk about muscles and their function as separate from the whole. Muscles are a part of our entire system, and…

Stride frequency describes how often a runner changes support during running. Around 180 steps per minute the muscle–tendon system begins to contribute elastic energy, reducing muscular effort and improving efficiency. Here is the research behind this number and what it means for running technique.