Sex and Stride Impact Joint Stiffness During Loaded Running
Tyler N Brown1, AuraLea C Fain1, Kayla D Seymore1
1Boise State University.
Journal of Applied Biomechanics
|December 28, 2020
Summary
Running with added weight increases lower limb joint stiffness, particularly in females. Longer strides can reduce this stiffness, but increased joint stiffness may raise injury risk when carrying loads.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Movement Science
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Running with body-borne load is common in various occupations and activities.
- Understanding how load affects running biomechanics is crucial for injury prevention.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the impact of load on lower limb joint stiffness across different strides and sexes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine how body-borne load influences lower limb joint stiffness during running.
- To investigate if these changes in joint stiffness differ based on stride length.
- To examine sex-specific differences in joint stiffness responses to running with load.
Main Methods:
- Twenty males and 16 females ran at 4.0 m/s with loads of 20, 25, 30, and 35 kg.
- Joint stiffness, range of motion (RoM), and peak flexion moment were measured across preferred, 15% longer, and 15% shorter strides.
- Data were analyzed using a mixed-model analysis of variance.
Main Results:
- Knee and ankle joint stiffness increased significantly with added load (19% and 6%, respectively).
- Stiffness decreased with longer strides (8% for knee, 6% for ankle).
- Females demonstrated 15% greater knee stiffness compared to males due to larger reductions in knee RoM with load.
Conclusions:
- Increased lower limb joint stiffness with body-borne load may elevate running injury risk.
- Stride length modification can influence joint stiffness, potentially mitigating load-induced changes.
- Sex differences in joint stiffness responses highlight a need for sex-specific considerations in load-carrying guidelines and injury prevention strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Impact Loading
478
Impact loading occurs when a moving object collides with a stationary structure, such as a rod with a uniform cross-sectional area fixed at one end. Under these conditions, the rod absorbs the kinetic energy from the striking object, leading to deformation and subsequent stress development. As the rod returns to its original position and reaches maximum stress, the absorbed energy, initially manifested as kinetic energy, transforms entirely into strain energy.
In cases of elastic deformation,...
In cases of elastic deformation,...
478
01:10Ankle Joint
2.3K
The ankle is formed by the talocrural joint (crural = leg). It consists of the articulations between the talus bone of the foot and the distal ends of the tibia and fibula of the leg. The superior aspect of the talus bone is square-shaped and has three areas of articulation. The top of the talus articulates with the inferior tibia. This is the portion of the ankle joint that carries the body weight between the leg and foot. The sides of the talus are firmly held in position by the articulations...
2.3K
01:23Knee Joint
2.8K
The knee joint is the most complicated joint in the body. It consists of three articulations– two tibiofemoral and one patellofemoral. As is characteristic of synovial joints, the knee joint has a thin articular capsule that partially surrounds this joint cavity. Additionally, several ligaments, muscles, and cartilaginous structures support the movement of the knee.
A total of seven ligaments support the knee joint. The patellar ligament, which is also attached to the quadriceps femoris...
A total of seven ligaments support the knee joint. The patellar ligament, which is also attached to the quadriceps femoris...
2.8K
01:20Normal Strain under Axial Loading
918
Normal strain under axial loading is an important concept in the field of mechanics of materials. Axial loading implies the application of a force along the axis of a material, like a column or bar. This force can either compress or stretch the material. In the context of axial loading, normal strain is the deformation experienced by the material in the direction of the loading force. It's calculated as the change in length divided by the original length of the material. This unitless ratio...
918
00:58Introduction to Joints
4.4K
The adult human body usually has 206 bones, and except for the hyoid bone in the neck, each bone is connected to at least one other bone. Joints are the location where bones come together. Many joints allow for movement between the bones. At these joints, the articulating surfaces of the adjacent bones can move smoothly against each other. However, the bones of other joints may be joined by connective tissue or cartilage. These joints are designed for stability and provide little or no...
4.4K
01:15Strain and Elastic Modulus
6.9K
The quantity that describes the deformation of a body under stress is known as strain. Strain is given as a fractional change in either length, volume, or geometry under tensile, volume (also known as bulk), or shear stress, respectively, and is a dimensionless quantity. The strain experienced by a body under tensile or compressive stress is called tensile or compressive strain, respectively. In contrast, the strain experienced under bulk stress and shear stress is known as volume and shear...
6.9K