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Using Gold-standard Gait Analysis Methods to Assess Experience Effects on Lower-limb Mechanics During Moderate High-heeled Jogging and Running
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Lower extremity joint stiffness characteristics during running with different footfall patterns.

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Runners can change their footfall pattern, but this alters knee and ankle joint mechanics. Forefoot strikers have stiffer knees and compliant ankles, while rearfoot strikers show the opposite, potentially influencing injury types.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Sports Medicine
  • Running Gait Analysis

Background:

  • Running gait analysis is crucial for understanding injury mechanisms.
  • Footfall patterns, such as forefoot (FF) and rearfoot (RF) striking, significantly influence lower limb biomechanics.
  • Investigating joint stiffness and negative work can reveal adaptive strategies during altered gait.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare knee and ankle joint stiffness and negative work between preferred and non-preferred footfall patterns in runners.
  • To determine if runners can adapt their joint mechanics when switching between FF and RF striking.
  • To explore potential differences in injury risk associated with altered footfall patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a 3D motion capture system and force platform for data acquisition.
  • Recruited 40 healthy runners (20 habitual FF, 20 habitual RF).
  • Measured joint stiffness and negative joint work during over-ground running trials in preferred and non-preferred footfall conditions.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in joint stiffness and negative work were observed between FF and RF patterns.
  • Forefoot striking demonstrated a stiffer knee and more compliant ankle, with greater negative ankle work and less negative knee work.
  • Rearfoot striking exhibited the inverse joint mechanics compared to forefoot striking.

Conclusions:

  • Runners can alter their footfall pattern in the short term, indicating adaptability.
  • Changing footfall patterns necessitates a re-organization of joint control strategies.
  • The observed biomechanical re-organization suggests distinct injury profiles may exist for FF and RF runners.