Joint contact loading in forefoot and rearfoot strike patterns during running
Brandon D Rooney1, Timothy R Derrick
1Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. brandon.d.rooney@gmail.com
Journal of Biomechanics
|August 6, 2013
Summary
Forefoot strike pattern (FFS) running increases ankle and knee joint loading compared to rearfoot strike pattern (RFS) running. Converted runners showed similar joint loading to habitual runners, suggesting caution when altering foot strike patterns.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics of running
- Sports injury research
- Human locomotion analysis
Background:
- Running strike patterns, forefoot (FFS) vs. rearfoot (RFS), are debated regarding injury risk.
- Previous research focused on external ground reaction forces, not internal joint loads.
- Internal joint contact forces are more direct indicators of injury-related stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and compare internal joint loading (ankle, knee, hip) between FFS and RFS running.
- To investigate if converted runners (habitual RFS adopting FFS, and vice versa) exhibit similar joint loading to habitual runners of the respective patterns.
- To identify potential injury risks associated with different foot strike patterns.
Main Methods:
- Utilized inverse dynamics to compute net joint moments and reaction forces.
- Employed optimization techniques to estimate muscle forces.
- Measured axial compressive loading at the ankle, knee, and hip joints in competitive runners.
Main Results:
- Forefoot strike pattern running demonstrated significantly greater plantar flexor muscle forces and ankle joint moments in early stance.
- Average ankle joint contact forces increased by 41.7% and knee joint contact forces by 14.4% during FFS running.
- Peak ankle joint contact force was 1.5 body weights higher in FFS compared to RFS running (p<0.05).
- No significant differences in joint contact forces were found between habitual and converted running patterns.
Conclusions:
- Forefoot strike pattern running leads to substantially increased axial compressive loading at the ankle and knee joints.
- The higher ankle joint loading associated with FFS running warrants consideration for runners altering their strike pattern.
- Converted runners do not appear to significantly differ from habitual runners in terms of internal joint loading patterns.
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