Lower Extremity Mechanics in Runners with a Converted Forefoot Strike Pattern

2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorsey S. Williams ◽  
Irene S. McClay ◽  
Kurt T. Manal

Runners are sometimes advised to alter their strike pattern as a means of increasing performance or in response to injury. The purpose of this study was to compare lower extremity mechanics of rearfoot strikers (RFS), who were instructed to run with a forefoot strike pattern (CFFS) to those of a preferred forefoot striker (FFS). Three-dimensional mechanics of 9 FFS and 9 CFFS were evaluated. Peak values for most kinematic and kinetic variables and all patterns of movement were not found to be statistically different between CFFS and FFS. Only peak vertical ground reaction force and peak ankle plantarflexion moment were found to be significantly lower (p ≤ .05) in the CFFS group. This suggests that RFS are able to assume a FFS pattern with very little practice that is very similar to that of a preferred FFS. The impact of changing one's strike pattern on injury risk and running performance needs further study.

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 968-973 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. Hannigan ◽  
Christine D. Pollard

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.


2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaurav Telhan ◽  
Jason R. Franz ◽  
Jay Dicharry ◽  
Robert P. Wilder ◽  
Patrick O. Riley ◽  
...  

Abstract Context: Knowledge of the kinetic changes that occur during sloped running is important in understanding the adaptive gait-control mechanisms at work and can provide additional information about the poorly understood relationship between injury and changes in kinetic forces in the lower extremity. A study of these potential kinetic changes merits consideration, because training and return-to-activity programs are potentially modifiable factors for tissue stress and injury risk. Objective: To contribute further to the understanding of hill running by quantifying the 3-dimensional alterations in joint kinetics during moderately sloped decline, level, and incline running in a group of healthy runners. Design: Crossover study. Setting: Three-dimensional motion analysis laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Nineteen healthy young runners/joggers (age  =  25.3 ± 2.5 years). Intervention(s): Participants ran at 3.13 m/s on a treadmill under the following 3 different running-surface slope conditions: 4° decline, level, and 4° incline. Main Outcome Measure(s): Lower extremity joint moments and powers and the 3 components of the ground reaction force. Results: Moderate changes in running-surface slope had a minimal effect on ankle, knee, and hip joint kinetics when velocity was held constant. Only changes in knee power absorption (increased with decline-slope running) and hip power (increased generation on incline-slope running and increased absorption on decline-slope running in early stance) were noted. We observed an increase only in the impact peak of the vertical ground reaction force component during decline-slope running, whereas the nonvertical components displayed no differences. Conclusions: Running style modifications associated with running on moderate slopes did not manifest as changes in 3-dimensional joint moments or in the active peaks of the ground reaction force. Our data indicate that running on level and moderately inclined slopes appears to be a safe component of training regimens and return-to-run protocols after injury.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-466
Author(s):  
Giulia Pereira ◽  
Aluísio Otavio Vargas Avila ◽  
Rudnei Palhano

AbstractIntroduction Footwear is no longer just an accessory but also a protection for the musculoskeletal system, and its most important characteristic is comfort.Objectives This study aims to identify and to analyze the vertical ground reaction force in barefoot women and women with unstable shoes.Methodology Five women aged 25 ± 4 years old and mass of 50 ± 7 kg participated in this study. An AMTI force plate was used for data acquisition. The 10 trials for each situation were considered valid where the subject approached the platform with the right foot and at the speed of 4 km/h ± 5%. The instable shoe of this study is used in the practice of physical activity.Results The results showed that the first peak force was higher for the footwear situation, about 5% and significant differences between the barefoot and footwear situation. This significant difference was in the first and second peaks force and in the time of the second peak.Conclusion The values showed that the footwear absorbs approximately 45% of the impact during gait.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Zehao Tong ◽  
Feng Zhai ◽  
Hang Xu ◽  
Wenjia Chen ◽  
Jiesheng Cui

Introduction. This study finds the lower limbs’ reactive strength index and biomechanical parameters on variable heights. Objective. This research aims to reveal the effects of drop height on lower limbs’ reactive strength index and biomechanical parameters. Methods. Two AMTI force platforms and Vicon motion capture system were used to collect kinematic and dynamic signals of the lower limbs. Results. The drop height had significant effects on peak vertical ground reaction force and peak vertical ground reaction force in the extension phase, lower limbs’ support moment, eccentric power of the hip joint, eccentric power of the knee joint, eccentric power of the ankle joint, and concentric power of the hip joint. The drop height had no significant effects on the reactive strength index. Reactive strength index (RSI) had no significant correlations with the personal best of high jumpers. The optimal loading height for the maximum reactive strength index was 0.45 m. Conclusion. The optimal loading height for the reactive strength index can be used for explosive power training and lower extremity injury prevention.


2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-181
Author(s):  
KA Thiagarajan ◽  
Tvisha Parikh ◽  
Anees Sayed ◽  
MB Gnanavel ◽  
S Arumugam

ABSTRACT Cricket fast bowling action involves complex three-dimensional (3D) motion of the body and poses a high risk of injury more so in schoolboys. It is not known how the bowling technique varies between skilled and less skilled fast bowlers. The aim of this study is to compare the differences in bowling technique between young sub-elite (skilled) and amateur university level cricketers. Twelve players, 6 skilled and six amateur, were attached with 35 retro-reflective markers using the full body Plug-in-Gait marker set and asked to bowl 6 deliveries at a good length. Their bowling action was captured with 12 Vicon 3D cameras and the ground reaction force was measured using AMTI force plates. The best delivery from each bowler was selected. Their bowling action types were classified and parameters like shoulder counter rotation (scr), pelvicshoulder separation angle at back foot contact, trunk lateral flexion, front knee angle, front foot vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) and ball release speed were measured. The results were analyzed with Levene's test for Equality of Variances and a t-test for equality of means. The skilled bowlers showed faster ball release speed and experienced larger vGRF while the other parameters did not show any significant differences. How to cite this article Thiagarajan KA, Parikh T, Sayed A, Gnanavel MB, Arumugam S. Cricket Biomechanics Analysis of Skilled and Amateur Fast Bowling Techniques. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2015;49(4):173-181.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Landon B. Lempke ◽  
Jeonghoon Oh ◽  
Rachel S. Johnson ◽  
Julianne D. Schmidt ◽  
Robert C. Lynall

Context: Laboratory-based movement assessments are commonly performed without cognitive stimuli (ie, single-task) despite the simultaneous cognitive processing and movement (ie, dual task) demands required during sport. Cognitive loading may critically alter human movement and be an important consideration for truly assessing functional movement and understanding injury risk in the laboratory, but limited investigations exist. Objective: To comprehensively examine and compare kinematics and kinetics between single- and dual-task functional movement among healthy participants while controlling for sex. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Laboratory. Patients (or Other Participants): Forty-one healthy, physically active participants (49% female; 22.5 ± 2.1 y; 172.5 ± 11.9 cm; 71.0 ± 13.7 kg) enrolled in and completed the study. Intervention(s): All participants completed the functional movement protocol under single- and dual-task (subtracting by 6s or 7s) conditions in a randomized order. Participants jumped forward from a 30-cm tall box and performed (1) maximum vertical jump landings and (2) dominant and (3) nondominant leg, single-leg 45° cuts after landing. Main Outcome Measures: The authors used mixed-model analysis of variances (α = .05) to compare peak hip, knee, and ankle joint angles (degrees) and moments (N·m/BW) in the sagittal and frontal planes, and peak vertical ground reaction force (N/BW) and vertical impulse (Ns/BW) between cognitive conditions and sex. Results: Dual-task resulted in greater peak vertical ground reaction force compared with single-task during jump landing (mean difference = 0.06 N/BW; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01 to 0.12; P = .025) but less force during dominant leg cutting (mean difference = −0.08 N/BW; 95% CI, −0.14 to −0.02; P = .015). Less hip-flexion torque occurred during dual task than single task (mean difference = −0.09 N/BW; 95% CI, −0.17 to −0.02). No other outcomes were different between single and dual task (P ≥ .053). Conclusions: Slight, but potentially important, kinematic and kinetic differences were observed between single- and dual-task that may have implications for functional movement assessments and injury risk research. More research examining how various cognitive and movement tasks interact to alter functional movement among pathological populations is warranted before clinical implementation.


Author(s):  
Andreas Brand ◽  
Christian von Rüden ◽  
Carina Probst ◽  
Lisa Wenzel ◽  
Peter Augat ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Patients with surgically treated acetabular fractures using extensive dissection of hip muscles demonstrate an incomplete biomechanical recovery and limited joint mobility during movement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early biomechanical outcome in a series of patients with acetabular fractures treated using the less invasive anatomical pararectus approach. Methods Eight patients (48 ± 14 years, BMI 25.8 ± 3 kg/m2) were investigated 3.8 ± 1.3 months after surgery and compared to matched controls (49 ± 13 years, BMI 26 ± 2.8 kg/m2). Trunk and lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during gait and stair climb were calculated. SF-12 and the Merle d’Aubigné score were used for functional evaluation. Statistical analysis was conducted using Mann–Whitney test and Student’s t test. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Results No group differences for lower extremity kinematics during walking and stair climbing were found. During walking, patients showed significant reductions (p < 0.05) of the vertical ground reaction force (8%) and knee and hip extension moments (29 and 27%). Ipsilateral trunk lean was significantly increased by 3.1° during stair descend while reductions of vertical ground reaction force were found for stair ascend (7%) and descend (20%). Hip extension moment was significantly reduced during stair descend by 37%. Patients revealed acceptable SF-12 physical and mental component outcomes and a good rating for the Merle d’Aubigné score (15.9 ± 1.7). Conclusion Patients showed some biomechanical restrictions that can be related to residual deficits in weight bearing capacity and strength of the hip muscles. In contrast, an immediate recovery of mobility was achieved by preserving lower extremity and pelvic movement. Therefore, the pararectus approach can serve as a viable strategy in the surgical treatment of acetabular fractures. Clinical trial Trial registration number DRKS00011308, 11/14/2016, prospectively registered.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell T. Johnson ◽  
Matthew C. O'Neill ◽  
Brian R. Umberger

Humans walk with an upright posture on extended limbs during stance and with a double-peaked vertical ground reaction force. Our closest living relatives, chimpanzees, are facultative bipeds that walk with a crouched posture on flexed, abducted hind limbs and with a single-peaked vertical ground reaction force. Differences in human and bipedal chimpanzee three-dimensional kinematics have been well quantified; however, it is unclear what the independent effects of using a crouched posture are on three-dimensional gait mechanics for humans, and how they compare with chimpanzees. Understanding the relationships between posture and gait mechanics, with known differences in morphology between species, can help researchers better interpret the effects of trait evolution on bipedal walking. We quantified pelvis and lower limb three-dimensional kinematics and ground reaction forces as humans adopted a series of upright and crouched postures and compared them with data from bipedal chimpanzee walking. Human crouched posture gait mechanics were more similar to bipedal chimpanzee gait than normal human walking, especially in sagittal plane hip and knee angles. However, there were persistent differences between species, as humans walked with less transverse plane pelvis rotation, less hip abduction, and greater peak horizontal ground reaction force in late stance than chimpanzees. Our results suggest that human crouched posture walking reproduces only a small subset of the characteristics of three-dimensional kinematics and ground reaction forces of chimpanzee walking, with the remaining differences likely due in large part to the distinct musculoskeletal morphologies of humans and chimpanzees.


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