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Comparative Analysis of Lower Limb Kinematics between the Initial and Terminal Phase of 5km Treadmill Running
Published on: July 17, 2020
Frontal plane moments do not accurately reflect ankle dynamics during running
Kristian M O'Connor1, Joseph Hamill
1Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 53201, USA.
Journal of Applied Biomechanics
|September 1, 2005
Summary
Calculating ankle joint moments using the subtalar joint axis, rather than the standard frontal plane axis, reveals distinct muscle action patterns during running. This difference impacts interpretations of ankle biomechanics.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Ankle joint moments are crucial for understanding lower limb function during locomotion.
- Traditional analysis often simplifies the ankle joint, treating it as a universal joint with moments calculated about orthogonal axes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the discrepancies in joint moments when calculated about the orthogonal frontal plane axis versus an estimated subtalar joint axis.
- To compare these different calculation methods in the context of running biomechanics.
Main Methods:
- Collected three-dimensional kinematic data from 10 participants running at a self-selected speed (3.6 m/s).
- Calculated joint moments, power, and work about both the orthogonal frontal plane axis and the estimated subtalar joint axis.
- Utilized a paired t-test (alpha = 0.05) to compare selected biomechanical parameters between the two calculation methods.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in joint moments calculated about the two axes.
- Moments about the orthogonal frontal plane axis showed an inversion pattern in early stance and an eversion pattern in late stance.
- Moments about the subtalar joint axis demonstrated an inversion pattern throughout most of the stance phase.
Conclusions:
- The choice of calculation axis for ankle joint moments significantly influences the interpretation of muscular contributions during the stance phase of running.
- Using the subtalar joint axis provides a more accurate representation of the net muscle action compared to the orthogonal frontal plane axis.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering the oblique nature of the subtalar joint axis in biomechanical analyses of the ankle.
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