scholarly journals Foot Kinematics Differ Between Runners With and Without a History of Navicular Stress Fractures

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 232596711876736 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Becker ◽  
Stanley James ◽  
Louis Osternig ◽  
Li-Shan Chou
Keyword(s):  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Clinical Examination ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Foot Kinematics ◽  
Foot Structure ◽  
History Of ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Rearfoot Eversion

Background: A navicular stress fracture (NSF) is a common and high-risk injury in distance runners. It is not clear whether there are differences in foot structure and function between runners who have and those who have not sustained an NSF. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study compared foot structure, range of motion, and biomechanics between runners with a history of unilateral NSFs and runners who had never sustained this injury. The hypothesis was that runners with a history of NSFs will have less dorsiflexion and subtalar range of motion in a clinical examination and greater rearfoot eversion and higher eversion velocity while running than either the noninvolved feet or healthy controls. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Seven runners who sustained an NSF were matched with 7 controls without this injury history. Participants underwent a clinical orthopaedic examination, followed by a 3-dimensional running gait analysis. Clinical examination variables, foot kinematics, and ground-reaction forces were compared between injured and noninjured feet within the NSF group and between the NSF group and control group. Results: The NSF group demonstrated less plantar flexion on the clinical examination than the control group ( P = .034, effect size [ES] = 0.69). The involved feet of the NSF group demonstrated greater rearfoot eversion excursion, greater eversion velocity, and reduced forefoot abduction excursion than either the noninvolved feet of the NSF group ( P = .015, ES = 1.73; P = .015, ES = 1.86; and P = .015, ES = 0.96, respectively) or the control group ( P = .012, ES = 1.40; P = .016, ES = 0.49; and P = .005, ES = 1.60, respectively). Conclusion: There are differences in foot kinematics but not ground-reaction forces, foot structure, or passive range of motion between runners who have and those who have not sustained an NSF. Runners who demonstrate increased rearfoot eversion and reduced forefoot abduction during stance may be more at risk for developing NSFs.

Bilateral Changes in Ground Reaction Forces in Patients with Unilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency During Stair Locomotion

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.-C. Lin ◽  
H.-C. Hsu ◽  
T.-W. Lu
Keyword(s):  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Acl Deficiency ◽  
Stair Ascent ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Stair Locomotion

ABSTRACTStair locomotion is an important but challenging functional activity for people with lower limb pathology. This study aimed to investigate the bilateral changes in force-bearing on lower limbs during stair locomotion in patients with unilateral ACL deficiency. The ground reaction forces (GRF) were collected from three force platforms: One at ground level in front of a 5-step stair and two on the first two steps respectively. Parameters in vertical and anterior-posterior GRF were extracted and compared between the ACL-deficient (ACLD) and control groups. The ACLD group showed significantly slower stepping cadences in both stair ascent and stepping down to the ground (p < 0.05). The vertical GRF in the ACLD group demonstrated smaller peak forces but larger minimum forces between the two peaks than those in the control group during both stair ascent and descent. Significantly reduced anterior propulsive forces and push-off rates in the late stance were also found in both limbs of the ACLD group (p < 0.05). The slower cadences and reduced force-bearing on the affected limb suggested a protective strategy was adopted. However, the anterior loading parameters in the early stance on the unaffected limb demonstrated different adaptations with significantly larger magnitudes during stair ascent but reduced magnitudes during stair descent (p < 0.05). Similar results were also found in the weight- transferring strategies between legs in consecutive steps with a significantly larger percentage of lift-up forces but a smaller percentage of impact forces on the leading unaffected limb. The results of this study indicated a cautious force-bearing strategy and bilateral adaptation were apparent in the patients with unilateral ACL deficiency. This information may provide a safety guideline for the patients and be helpful for a better use of the stair tasks as part of a rehabilitation program.

scholarly journals The effect of walking speed on the foot inter-segment kinematics, ground reaction forces and lower limb joint moments

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Sun ◽  
Gusztáv Fekete ◽  
Qichang Mei ◽  
Yaodong Gu
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
External Rotation ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Joint Moments ◽  
Angle Variation ◽  
Foot Kinematics ◽  
Reaction Forces

Background Normative foot kinematic and kinetic data with different walking speeds will benefit rehabilitation programs and improving gait performance. The purpose of this study was to analyze foot kinematics and kinetics differences between slow walking (SW), normal walking (NW) and fast walking (FW) of healthy subjects. Methods A total of 10 healthy male subjects participated in this study; they were asked to carry out walks at a self-selected speed. After measuring and averaging the results of NW, the subjects were asked to perform a 25% slower and 25% faster walk, respectively. Temporal-spatial parameters, kinematics of the tibia (TB), hindfoot (HF), forefoot (FF) and hallux (HX), and ground reaction forces (GRFs) were recorded while the subjects walked at averaged speeds of 1.01 m/s (SW), 1.34 m/s (NW), and 1.68 m/s (FW). Results Hindfoot relative to tibia (HF/TB) and forefoot relative to hindfoot (FF/HF) dorsiflexion (DF) increased in FW, while hallux relative to forefoot (HX/FF) DF decreased. Increased peak eversion (EV) and peak external rotation (ER) in HF/TB were observed in FW with decreased peak supination (SP) in FF/HF. GRFs were increased significantly with walking speed. The peak values of the knee and ankle moments in the sagittal and frontal planes significantly increased during FW compared with SW and NW. Discussion Limited HF/TB and FF/HF motion of SW was likely compensated for increased HX/FF DF. Although small angle variation in HF/TB EV and FF/HF SP during FW may have profound effects for foot kinetics. Higher HF/TB ER contributed to the FF push-off the ground while the center of mass (COM) progresses forward in FW, therefore accompanied by higher FF/HF abduction in FW. Increased peak vertical GRF in FW may affected by decreased stance duration time, the biomechanical mechanism maybe the change in vertical COM height and increase leg stiffness. Walking speed changes accompanied with modulated sagittal plane ankle moments to alter the braking GRF during loading response. The findings of foot kinematics, GRFs, and lower limb joint moments among healthy males may set a reference to distinguish abnormal and pathological gait patterns.

Magnitude and Spatial Distribution of Impact Intensity Under the Foot Relates to Initial Foot Contact Pattern

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 431-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bastiaan Breine ◽  
Philippe Malcolm ◽  
Veerle Segers ◽  
Joeri Gerlo ◽  
Rud Derie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Contact Pattern ◽  
Intensity Measure ◽  
Foot Kinematics ◽  
Contact Patterns ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Local Impact ◽  
The Impact

In running, foot contact patterns (rear-, mid-, or forefoot contact) influence impact intensity and initial ankle and foot kinematics. The aim of the study was to compare impact intensity and its spatial distribution under the foot between different foot contact patterns. Forty-nine subjects ran at 3.2 m·s−1 over a level runway while ground reaction forces (GRF) and shoe-surface pressures were recorded and foot contact pattern was determined. A 4-zone footmask (forefoot, midfoot, medial and lateral rearfoot) assessed the spatial distribution of the vertical GRF under the foot. We calculated peak vertical instantaneous loading rate of the GRF (VILR) per foot zone as the impact intensity measure. Midfoot contact patterns were shown to have the lowest, and atypical rearfoot contact patterns the highest impact intensities, respectively. The greatest local impact intensity was mainly situated under the rear- and midfoot for the typical rearfoot contact patterns, under the midfoot for the atypical rearfoot contact patterns, and under the mid- and forefoot for the midfoot contact patterns. These findings indicate that different foot contact patterns could benefit from cushioning in different shoe zones.

scholarly journals Hop-Stabilization Training and Landing Biomechanics in Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 1296-1303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Karimizadeh Ardakani ◽  
Erik A. Wikstrom ◽  
Hooman Minoonejad ◽  
Reza Rajabi ◽  
Ali Sharifnezhad
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Ankle Instability ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Basketball Players ◽  
Jump Landing ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Landing Biomechanics ◽  
Reaction Forces

Context Hopping exercises are recommended as a functional training tool to prevent lower limb injury, but their effects on lower extremity biomechanics in those with chronic ankle instability (CAI) are unclear. Objective To determine if jump-landing biomechanics change after a hop-stabilization intervention. Design Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants Twenty-eight male collegiate basketball players with CAI were divided into 2 groups: hop-training group (age = 22.78 ± 3.09 years, mass = 82.59 ± 9.51 kg, height = 187.96 ± 7.93 cm) and control group (age = 22.57 ± 2.76 years, mass = 78.35 ± 7.02 kg, height = 185.69 ± 7.28 cm). Intervention(s) A 6-week supervised hop-stabilization training program that consisted of 18 training sessions. Main Outcome Measure(s) Lower extremity kinetics and kinematics during a jump-landing task and self-reported function were assessed before and after the 6-week training program. Results The hop-stabilization program resulted in improved self-reported function (P &lt; .05), larger sagittal-plane hip- and knee-flexion angles, and greater ankle dorsiflexion (P &lt; .05) relative to the control group. Reduced frontal-plane joint angles at the hip, knee, and ankle as well as decreased ground reaction forces and a longer time to peak ground reaction forces were observed in the hopping group compared with the control group after the intervention (P &lt; .05). Conclusions The 6-week hop-stabilization training program altered jump-landing biomechanics in male collegiate basketball players with CAI. These results may provide a potential mechanistic explanation for improvements in patient-reported outcomes and reductions in injury risk after ankle-sprain rehabilitation programs that incorporate hop-stabilization exercises.

scholarly journals Frequency Domain analysis of Ground reaction forces in Deaf and blind people during walking

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
mohsen barghamadi ◽  
mohammad Abdollahpour Darvishani
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Vertical Component ◽  
Domain Analysis ◽  
Frequency Domain Analysis ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Blind People ◽  
Frequency Content ◽  
Reaction Forces

Background: The link between Frequency domain analysis of ground reaction forces and hearing loss and blind during walking is not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate frequency domain analysis of ground reaction forces in deaf and blind people during walking. Methods: This study was quasi-experimental. The volunteer participants in current study consisted of thirty male that, were divided into three equal groups: blind, deaf and healthy (control) groups. Frequency Domain analysis of ground reaction forces in three groups was recorded by a foot scan system (sample rate: 300 Hz). The multivariate ANOVA test was used to compare between groups. The significance level was set at p < 0.05 for all analyses. Results: The results showed that, the frequency content with the power 99.5% in the vertical component of ground reaction forces in both deaf (p=0.020) and blind (p=0.021) groups reduced vs. control group. Also, frequency content with the power 99.5% in the Mid-foot in deaf (p=0.020) group was more than the blind group (p=0.036). Conclusion: The present study showed that the frequency content with the power 99.5% in the Mid-foot in deaf group was more than the blind group. It can be stated that the frequency domain analysis of ground reaction forces has the clinical value. Therefore, the use of therapeutic interventions to improve the frequency domain analysis of ground reaction forces in deaf and blind people is suggested.

scholarly journals Adaptation of Running Biomechanics to Repeated Barefoot Running: A Randomized Controlled Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 1975-1983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karsten Hollander ◽  
Dominik Liebl ◽  
Stephanie Meining ◽  
Klaus Mattes ◽  
Steffen Willwacher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Passive Control ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Ground Contact ◽  
Barefoot Running ◽  
Loading Rates ◽  
Foot Strike ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Running Biomechanics

Background: Previous studies have shown that changing acutely from shod to barefoot running induces several changes to running biomechanics, such as altered ankle kinematics, reduced ground-reaction forces, and reduced loading rates. However, uncertainty exists whether these effects still exist after a short period of barefoot running habituation. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose was to investigate the effects of a habituation to barefoot versus shod running on running biomechanics. It was hypothesized that a habituation to barefoot running would induce different adaptations of running kinetics and kinematics as compared with a habituation to cushioned footwear running or no habituation. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Young, physically active adults without experience in barefoot running were randomly allocated to a barefoot habituation group, a cushioned footwear group, or a passive control group. The 8-week intervention in the barefoot and footwear groups consisted of 15 minutes of treadmill running at 70% of VO2 max (maximal oxygen consumption) velocity per weekly session in the allocated footwear. Before and after the intervention period, a 3-dimensional biomechanical analysis for barefoot and shod running was conducted on an instrumented treadmill. The passive control group did not receive any intervention but was also tested prior to and after 8 weeks. Pre- to posttest changes in kinematics, kinetics, and spatiotemporal parameters were then analyzed with a mixed effects model. Results: Of the 60 included participants (51.7% female; mean ± SD age, 25.4 ± 3.3 years; body mass index, 22.6 ± 2.1 kg·m-2), 53 completed the study (19 in the barefoot habituation group, 18 in the shod habituation group, and 16 in the passive control group). Acutely, running barefoot versus shod influenced foot strike index and ankle, foot, and knee angles at ground contact ( P < .001), as well as vertical average loading rate ( P = .003), peak force ( P < .001), contact time ( P < .001), flight time ( P < .001), step length ( P < .001), and cadence ( P < .001). No differences were found for average force ( P = .391). After the barefoot habituation period, participants exhibited more anterior foot placement ( P = .006) when running barefoot, while no changes were observed in the footwear condition. Furthermore, barefoot habituation increased the vertical average loading rates in both conditions (barefoot, P = .01; shod, P = .003) and average vertical ground-reaction forces for shod running ( P = .039). All other outcomes (ankle, foot, and knee angles at ground contact and flight time, contact time, cadence, and peak forces) did not change significantly after the 8-week habituation. Conclusion: Changing acutely from shod to barefoot running in a habitually shod population increased the foot strike index and reduced ground-reaction force and loading rates. After the habituation to barefoot running, the foot strike index was further increased, while the force and average loading rates also increased as compared with the acute barefoot running situation. The increased average loading rate is contradictory to other studies on acute adaptations of barefoot running. Clinical Relevance: A habituation to barefoot running led to increased vertical average loading rates. This finding was unexpected and questions the generalizability of acute adaptations to long-term barefoot running. Sports medicine professionals should consider these adaptations in their recommendations regarding barefoot running as a possible measure for running injury prevention. Registration: DRKS00011073 (German Clinical Trial Register).

scholarly journals Characterization of Multiple Movement Strategies in Participants With Chronic Ankle Instability

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 698-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ty Hopkins ◽  
S. Jun Son ◽  
Hyunsoo Kim ◽  
Garritt Page ◽  
Matthew K. Seeley
Keyword(s):  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Ankle Instability ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Chronic Ankle Instability ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Sensorimotor Deficits ◽  
Movement Strategies ◽  
Reaction Forces

Context Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is characterized by multiple sensorimotor deficits, affecting strength, postural control, motion, and movement. Identifying specific deficits is the key to developing appropriate interventions for this patient population; however, multiple movement strategies within this population may limit the ability to identify specific movement deficits. Objective To identify specific movement strategies in a large sample of participants with CAI and to characterize each strategy relative to a sample of uninjured control participants. Design Descriptive laboratory study. Setting Biomechanics laboratory. Patients or Other Participants A total of 200 individuals with CAI (104 men, 96 women; age = 22.3 ± 2.2 years, height = 174.2 ± 9.5 cm, mass = 72.0 ± 14.0 kg) were selected according to the inclusion criteria established by the International Ankle Consortium and were fit into clusters based on movement strategy. A total of 100 healthy individuals serving as controls (54 men, 46 women; age = 22.2 ± 3.0 years, height = 173.2 ± 9.2 cm, mass = 70.7 ± 13.4 kg) were compared with each cluster. Main Outcome Measure(s) Lower extremity joint biomechanics and ground reaction forces were collected during a maximal vertical jump landing, followed immediately by a side cut. Data were reduced to functional output or curves, kinematic data from the frontal and sagittal planes were reduced to a single representative curve for each plane, and representative curves were clustered using a Bayesian clustering technique. Estimated functions for each dependent variable were compared with estimated functions from the control group to describe each cluster. Results Six distinct clusters were identified from the frontal-plane and sagittal-plane data. Differences in joint angles, joint moments, and ground reaction forces between clusters and the control group were also identified. Conclusions The participants with CAI demonstrated 6 distinct movement strategies, indicating that CAI could be characterized by multiple distinct movement alterations. Clinicians should carefully evaluate patients with CAI for sensorimotor deficits and quality of movement to determine the appropriate interventions for treatment.

Mirror Cross-Exercise on a Kinetic Chain Approach Improves Throwing Performance in Professional Volleyball Athletes With Scapular Dyskinesis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Eleftherios Paraskevopoulos ◽  
Theocharis Simeonidis ◽  
Charilaos Tsolakis ◽  
Panagiotis Koulouvaris ◽  
Maria Papandreou
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Scapular Dyskinesis ◽  
Kinetic Chain ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Throwing Accuracy ◽  
Volleyball Players ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Accuracy Speed

Context: Volleyball players have shown to be at an increased risk of developing scapular dyskinesis. The kinetic chain exercise approach has gained a lot of attention because of its claims to provide an improved motor control and scapular kinematics. A form of cross exercise, known as mirror therapy, may enhance the effects of a kinetic chain exercise approach in throwing performance. Objective: To examine the effects of mirror cross exercise (MCE), based on a kinetic chain exercise approach in the throwing performance of volleyball athletes with scapular dyskinesis. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Methods: 39 volleyball players with scapular dyskinesis were randomly allocated into 3 groups. The first group completed a 6-week kinetic chain approach (KCA group), the second group completed a kinetic chain exercise approach program in addition to MCE group, and the control group followed only their regular training program. Before and after delivering both interventions, throwing accuracy, speed, and force were determined while measuring the ground reaction forces of the drive leg during throwing. Two-way mixed analysis of variance investigated the effects of intervention and time and their interaction. Results: The results showed intervention × time statistically significant interactions for throwing accuracy, speed, and force for the MCE and the KCA groups. Over the 6-week training period, the MCE and the KCA groups showed significant improvements in throwing accuracy (P < .01) and speed (P < .01), while the ground reaction forces did not change (P > .05). Throwing force increased significantly in the MCE group (P = .01). Between-group comparison showed statistically significant improvements in the throwing accuracy for the MCE and KCA groups against the control group (P < .01) at posttesting. The MCE demonstrated superior results over the KCA in the aforementioned measures. Conclusions: This study suggests that the addition of MCE in a KCA program enhances energy transfer throughout the distal and proximal segments, thus improving kinetic chain recruitment and potentially preventing shoulder pathology.

scholarly journals Lower Extremity Kinematics and Ground Reaction Forces After Prophylactic Lace-Up Ankle Bracing

2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 234-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay J. DiStefano ◽  
Darin A. Padua ◽  
Cathleen N. Brown ◽  
Kevin M. Guskiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ground Contact ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Ankle Motion ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Ankle Bracing

Abstract Context: Long-term effects of ankle bracing on lower extremity kinematics and kinetics are unknown. Ankle motion restriction may negatively affect the body's ability to attenuate ground reaction forces (GRFs). Objective: To evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of ankle bracing on lower extremity kinematics and GRFs during a jump landing. Design: Experimental mixed model (2 [group] × 2 [brace] × 2 [time]) with repeated measures. Setting: Sports medicine research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 37 healthy subjects were assigned randomly to either the intervention (n  =  11 men, 8 women; age  =  19.63 ± 0.72 years, height  =  176.05 ± 10.58 cm, mass  =  71.50 ± 13.15 kg) or control group (n  =  11 men, 7 women; age  =  19.94 ± 1.44 years, height  =  179.15 ± 8.81 cm, mass  =  74.10 ± 10.33 kg). Intervention(s): The intervention group wore braces on both ankles and the control group did not wear braces during all recreational activities for an 8-week period. Main Outcome Measure(s): Initial ground contact angles, maximum joint angles, time to reach maximum joint angles, and joint range of motion for sagittal-plane knee and ankle motion were measured during a jump-landing task. Peak vertical GRF and the time to reach peak vertical GRF were assessed also. Results: While participants were wearing the brace, ankle plantar flexion at initial ground contact (brace  =  35° ± 13°, no brace  =  38° ± 15°, P  =  .024), maximum dorsiflexion (brace  =  21° ± 7°, no brace  =  22° ± 6°, P  =  .04), dorsiflexion range of motion (brace  =  56° ± 14°, no brace  =  59° ± 16°, P  =  .001), and knee flexion range of motion (brace  =  79° ± 16°, no brace  =  82° ± 16°, P  =  .036) decreased, whereas knee flexion at initial ground contact increased (brace  =  12° ± 9°, no brace  =  9° ± 9°, P  =  .0001). Wearing the brace for 8 weeks did not affect any of the outcome measures, and the brace caused no changes in vertical GRFs (P &gt; .05). Conclusions: Although ankle sagittal-plane motion was restricted with the brace, knee flexion upon landing increased and peak vertical GRF did not change. The type of lace-up brace used in this study appeared to restrict ankle motion without increasing knee extension or vertical GRFs and without changing kinematics or kinetics over time.

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