Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 6, 2025
08:26
Comparative Analysis of Lower Limb Kinematics between the Initial and Terminal Phase of 5km Treadmill Running
Published on: July 17, 2020
6.2K
Spatiotemporal and Ground-Reaction Force Characteristics as Risk Factors for Running-Related Injury: A Secondary
Laurent Malisoux1, Paul Gette2, Nicolas Delattre3
1Physical Activity, Sport & Health Research Group, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine
|January 20, 2022
Summary
A lower duty factor in running is a significant injury risk factor, particularly with softer shoe cushioning. Other biomechanical factors like impact peak were not found to increase injury risk.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Sports Medicine
- Running Injury Prevention
Background:
- Running biomechanics are implicated in running-related injuries.
- Few modifiable factors have been prospectively linked to injury risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify spatiotemporal and ground-reaction force risk factors in recreational runners.
- Examine if shoe cushioning alters the relationship between running biomechanics and injury risk.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study involving 848 recreational runners.
- Kinetic and spatiotemporal metrics derived from treadmill ground-reaction force data.
- 6-month follow-up for running activity and injury, analyzed using Cox regression models.
Main Results:
- Higher injury risk associated with greater step length, longer flight time, shorter contact time, and lower duty factor.
- Lower duty factor increased injury risk specifically in runners using soft cushioning shoes.
- Vertical impact peak, loading rate, and step rate were not identified as injury risk factors.
Conclusions:
- A lower duty factor is a key running injury risk factor, especially when using softer shoes.
- Commonly held beliefs about vertical impact peak, loading rate, and step rate as risk factors are not supported by this study.
