Altered Vertical Ground Reaction Force Components While Walking in Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-30
Author(s):  
Erik A. Wikstrom ◽  
Kyeongtak Song ◽  
Kimmery Migel ◽  
Chris J. Hass
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Ankle Instability ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Chronic Ankle Instability ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Time To Peak ◽  
Vertical Ground ◽  
Force Components

Aberrant loading is a mechanism by which individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) may negatively impact cartilage health and therefore long-term health outcomes. We aimed to quantify walking vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) component differences between those with and without CAI. Participants (n = 36) walked barefoot overground at a self-selected comfortable pace. Normalized peak vGRF, time to peak vGRF, and normalized loading rate were calculated. Higher normalized loading rates (CAI: 5.69 ± 0.62 N/BW/s; controls: 5.30 ± 0.44 N/BW/s, p = .034) and less time to peak vGRF (CAI: 1.48 ± 0.18 s; controls: 1.62 ± 0.16 s, p = .018) were observed in those with CAI. In conclusion, those with CAI demonstrate a higher normalized loading rate and less time to peak vGRF compared to controls.

The Relationship Between Vertical Ground Reaction Force, Loading Rate, and Sound Characteristics During a Single-Leg Landing

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 541-546
Author(s):  
Caroline Lisee ◽  
Tom Birchmeier ◽  
Arthur Yan ◽  
Brent Geers ◽  
Kaitlin O’Hagan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Sound Frequency ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Vertical Ground ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Linear Loading

Context: Landing kinetic outcomes are associated with injury risk and may be persistently altered after anterior cruciate ligament injury or reconstruction. However, it is challenging to assess kinetics clinically. The relationship between sound characteristics and kinetics during a limited number of functional tasks has been supported as a potential clinical alternative. Objective: To assess the relationship between kinetics and sound characteristics during a single-leg landing task. Design: Observational Setting: Laboratory. Participants: There was total of 26 healthy participants (15 males/11 females, age = 24.8 [3.6] y, height = 176.0 [9.1] cm, mass = 74.9 [14.4] kg, Tegner Activity Scale = 6.1 [1.1]). Intervention: Participants completed single-leg landings onto a force plate while audio characteristics were recorded. Main Outcome Measures: Peak vertical ground reaction force, linear loading rate, instantaneous loading rate, peak sound magnitude, sound frequency were measured. Means and SDs were calculated for each participant’s individual limbs. Spearman rho correlations were used to assess the relationships between audio characteristics and kinetic outcomes. Results: Peak sound magnitude was positively correlated with normalized peak vertical ground reaction force (ρ = .486, P = .001); linear loading rate (ρ = .491, P = .001); and instantaneous loading rate (ρ = .298, P = .03). Sound frequency was negatively correlated with instantaneous loading rate (ρ = −.444, P = .001). Conclusions: Peak sound magnitude may be more helpful in providing feedback about an individual’s normalized vertical ground reaction force and linear loading rate, and sound frequency may be more helpful in providing feedback about instantaneous loading rate. Further refinement in sound measurement techniques may be required before these findings can be applied in a clinical population.

A 6-Week Transition to Maximal Running Shoes Does Not Change Running Biomechanics

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 968-973 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. Hannigan ◽  
Christine D. Pollard
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Impact Force ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Risk Of Injury ◽  
Impact Peak ◽  
Running Shoes ◽  
Vertical Ground ◽  
The Impact

Background: A recent study suggested that maximal running shoes may increase the impact force and loading rate of the vertical ground-reaction force during running. It is currently unknown whether runners will adapt to decrease the impact force and loading rate over time. Purpose: To compare the vertical ground-reaction force and ankle kinematics between maximal and traditional shoes before and after a 6-week acclimation period to the maximal shoe. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Participants ran in a traditional running shoe and a maximal running shoe during 2 testing sessions 6 weeks apart. During each session, 3-dimensional kinematics and kinetics were collected during overground running. Variables of interest included the loading rate, impact peak, and active peak of the vertical ground-reaction force, as well as eversion and dorsiflexion kinematics. Two-way repeated measures analyses of variance compared data within participants. Results: No significant differences were observed in any biomechanical variable between time points. The loading rate and impact peak were higher in the maximal shoe. Runners were still everted at toe-off and landed with less dorsiflexion, on average, in the maximal shoe. Conclusion: Greater loading rates and impact forces were previously found in maximal running shoes, which may indicate an increased risk of injury. The eversion mechanics observed in the maximal shoes may also increase the risk of injury. A 6-week transition to maximal shoes did not significantly change any of these measures. Clinical Relevance: Maximal running shoes are becoming very popular and may be considered a treatment option for some injuries. The biomechanical results of this study do not support the use of maximal running shoes. However, the effect of these shoes on pain and injury rates is unknown.

scholarly journals Association between increase in vertical ground reaction force loading rate and pain level in women with patellofemoral pain after a patellofemoral joint loading protocol

The Knee ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 398-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronaldo Valdir Briani ◽  
Marcella Ferraz Pazzinatto ◽  
Marina Cabral Waiteman ◽  
Danilo de Oliveira Silva ◽  
Fábio Mícolis de Azevedo
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Patellofemoral Joint ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Patellofemoral Pain ◽  
Pain Level ◽  
Joint Loading ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Force Loading ◽  
Vertical Ground

Computational Methods Used in the Determination of Loading Rate: Experimental and Clinical Implications

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Mark Woodard ◽  
Margaret K. James ◽  
Stephen P. Messier
Keyword(s):  
Difference Method ◽  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Vertical Force ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Central Difference ◽  
Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Central Difference Method ◽  
Vertical Ground

Our purpose was to compare methods of calculating loading rate to the first peak vertical ground reaction force during walking and provide a rationale for the selection of a loading rate algorithm in the analysis of gait in clinical and research environments. Using vertical ground reaction force data collected from 15 older adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and 15 healthy controls, we: (a) calculated loading rate as the first peak vertical force divided by the time from touchdown until the first peak; (b) calculated loading rate as the slope of the least squares regression line using vertical force and time as the dependent and independent variables, respectively; (c) calculated loading rate over discrete intervals using the Central Difference method; and (d) calculated loading rate using vertical force and lime data representing 20% and 90% of the first peak vertical force. The largest loading rate, which may be of greatest clinical importance, occurred when loading rates were calculated using the fewest number of data points. The Central Difference method appeared to maximize our ability to detect differences between healthy and pathologic cohorts. Finally, there was a strong correlation between methods, suggesting that all four methods are acceptable. However, if maximizing the chances of detecting differences between groups is of primary importance, the Central Difference method appears superior.

scholarly journals A Pressure-Pad-Embedded Treadmill Yields Time-Dependent Errors in Estimating Ground Reaction Force during Walking

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5511
Author(s):  
Prabhat Pathak ◽  
Jooeun Ahn
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Estimation Error ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Vertical Ground ◽  
Fitting Model

Accurate and reliable vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) measurement is essential in various biomechanical and clinical studies. Recently, pressure–pad-embedded treadmills have been widely used for VGRF measurement as a relatively less expensive option than the force platform-mounted treadmills. Prior studies have shown that the popular Zebris treadmill is reliable when used to measure peak VGRF for short walking sessions. However, comprehensive evaluation of human walking requires information of gait parameters over sufficient gait cycles. In this study, we quantify the long-term temporal changes in VGRF values measured by the Zebris treadmill. Twenty participants walked on the treadmill for 10 min twice, with 10 min rest between trials. We found an evident decline in the measured VGRF and impulse over time for both trials. The Zebris system also consistently yielded the lower VGRF values during the second trials. These results indicate that the Zebris treadmill is unreliable in measuring VGRF during walking, and a 10 min break is not enough for the embedded sensors to recover their sensitivity. We provided a way to resolve these time-dependent errors; using the impulse-momentum theorem and collected kinematics of the participants, we formulated a curve-fitting model encapsulating the growing VGRF estimation error.

Vertical Ground Reaction Forces are Associated with Pain and Self-Reported Functional Status in Recreational Athletes with Patellofemoral Pain

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 409-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo de Oliveira Silva ◽  
Ronaldo Briani ◽  
Marcella Pazzinatto ◽  
Deisi Ferrari ◽  
Fernando Aragão ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knee Pain ◽  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Functional Limitation ◽  
Stair Climbing ◽  
Pain Level ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Vertical Ground

Individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) use different motor strategies during unipodal support in stair climbing activities, which may be assessed by vertical ground reaction force parameters. Thus, the aims of this study were to investigate possible differences in first peak, valley, second peak, and loading rate between recreational female athletes with PFP and pain-free athletes during stair climbing in order to determine the association and prediction capability between these parameters, pain level, and functional status in females with PFP. Thirty-one recreational female athletes with PFP and 31 pain-free recreational female athletes were evaluated with three-dimensional kinetics while performing stair climbing to obtain vertical ground reaction force parameters. A visual analog scale was used to evaluate the usual knee pain. The anterior knee pain scale was used to evaluate knee functional score. First peak and loading rate were associated with pain (r = .46, P = .008; r = .56, P = .001, respectively) and functional limitation (r = .31, P = .049; r = −.36, P = .032, respectively). Forced entry regression revealed the first peak was a significant predictor of pain (36.5%) and functional limitation (28.7%). Our findings suggest that rehabilitation strategies aimed at correcting altered vertical ground reaction force may improve usual knee pain level and self-reported knee function in females with PFP.

scholarly journals Prophylactic ankle supports effects on time to stabilization, perceived stability and ground reaction force during lateral landing in female collegiate athletes with chronic ankle instability

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Yalfani ◽  
Zahra Raeisi
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Ankle Instability ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Collegiate Athletes ◽  
Chronic Ankle Instability ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Time To Stabilization ◽  
Post Hoc

Abstract Background This study was designed to investigate effects of Kinesiotape (KT) with closed basket weave method and lace-up braces (LB) on the vertical time to stabilization, peak vertical ground reaction force (PvGRF), and time to PvGRF as well as perceived stability during lateral landing of participants with chronic ankle instability before and after fatigue. Methods Thirty female college athletes with chronic ankle instability of three conditions (control, KT, and LB) performed lateral landing from a 30 cm high step on the plantar pressure platform pre and post fatigue. Results The pre-test findings on the rearfoot, of LB indicated negatively increased the PvGRF force (F2,58=3.63, P = 0.04) and decreased the time to PvGRF (F2,58=4.67, P = 0.01). The Bonferroni post-hoc testing revealed LB condition increased the PvGRF than the control (P = 0.002) and KT (P = 0.038). Also, the post-hoc testing showed LB condition decreased the time to PvGRF force than the control (P = 0.05) and KT (P = 0.01). The LB negatively prolonged vertical time to stabilization in the forefoot (F2,58=6.74, P = 0.002) and rearfoot (F2,58=6.13, P = 0.004) after fatigue. The post-hoc testing revealed LB condition generated a slower vertical time to stabilization than the control and KT conditions (P ≤ 0.05). The use of KT had no positive effects as elevated the PvGRF in the forefoot post fatigue (F2,58=7.11, P = 0.002). The post-hoc test uncovered that KT augmented the PvGRF than control (P = 0.01) and LB (P < 0.001). On the other hand, using KT had psychological effects at pre-fatigue which resulting significantly greater in perceived stability compared to other conditions (F2,58=9.65, P < 0.001). The post-hoc test showed that using KT increased perceived stability than LB (P = 0.004) and control (P < 0.001). Moreover, perceived stability improved significantly in KT and LB compared to the control condition at the post-fatigue (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions Despite the positive psychological impact of the prophylactic ankle supports, there were no positive effect on the vertical time to stabilization, PvGRF, and time to PvGRF. Further studies are needed to distinguish the psychological and actual effects of prophylactic ankle supports on athletes with chronic ankle instability.

scholarly journals Inter-limb weight transfer strategy during walking after unilateral transfemoral amputation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Amma ◽  
Genki Hisano ◽  
Hiroto Murata ◽  
Matthew J. Major ◽  
Hiroshi Takemura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Regression Line ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Transfemoral Amputation ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Unloading Rate ◽  
Vertical Ground ◽  
Walking Speeds ◽  
Weight Transfer

AbstractAlthough weight transfer is an important component of gait rehabilitation, the biomechanical strategy underlying the vertical ground reaction force loading/unloading in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation between intact and prosthetic limbs remains unclear. We investigated weight transfer between limbs at different walking speeds in 15 individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation and 15 individuals without amputation as controls, who walked on an instrumented treadmill. The normalized unloading and loading rates were calculated as the slope of decay and rise phase of the vertical ground reaction force, respectively. We performed linear regression analyses for trailing limb’s unloading rate and leading limb’s loading rate between the prosthetic, intact, and control limbs. While loading rate increased with walking speed in all three limbs, the greatest increase was observed in the intact limb. In contrast to the other limbs, the prosthetic limb unloading rate was relatively insensitive to speed changes. Consequently, the regression line between trailing prosthetic and leading intact limbs deviated from other relationships. These results suggest that weight transfer is varied whether the leading or trailing limb is the prosthetic or intact side, and the loading rate of the leading limb is partially affected by the unloading rate of the contralateral trailing limb.

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