Deficits in Gait Biomechanics in Runners on a University Team: Implications for Preventative Sport Healthcare
Abstract
Sport healthcare providers in team-based settings conduct functional testing to identify injury risk. Results are used in team-based injury prevention programs. This process is different than care for a patient once they become injured. Gait analyses are a functional test for runners. Therefore, we aimed to describe the bilateral running biomechanics in a university cross country team with emphasis on variables linked to running-related injury (RRI). Twenty-seven male (n=10) and female (n=17) distance runners (age, 18-23yrs; height, 1.82±0.57m; mass, 58.4±6.8 kg) from a single university team participated in this descriptive study. Gait was assessed during a treadmill run at a self-selected steadystate pace with a 10-camera motion capture system. Vicon Nexus software enabled calculation of maximum values (0) of bilateral midstance hip adduction (HADD), contralateral pelvis drop (CPD), rearfoot eversion (REV), ankle dorsiflexion (AKD) and knee flexion (KFLEX); and initial contact AKD and KFLEX. Data were explored relative to previous research findings linking these selected biomechanics to RRI in university runners. HADD (Lt. 10.5±3.80, Rt. 11.2±5.20) and CPD (Lt. - 7.1±2.80, Rt. -6.0±2.10) at midstance were considered excessive as compared to 9.00 and -5.00, respectively. All KFLEX [(midstance Rt. 40.1±7.30, Lt. 39.1±6.30) (initial contact Rt. 14.5±5.60, Lt. 13.7±5.40)], AKD [midstance Rt. 24.1±4.50, Lt. 24.1±5.70) (initial contact Rt. 3.5±6.00, Lt. 3.4±5.80) and REV (midstance Rt. 5.0±4.00, Lt. 4.4±3.90) were within normal limits. Results indicate sport healthcare providers in similar settings may expect to implement injury prevention programs to target dynamic frontal plane pelvis and hip control.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Monique Mokha
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-6-2022 12:00 PM
End Date
4-7-2022 5:00 PM
Deficits in Gait Biomechanics in Runners on a University Team: Implications for Preventative Sport Healthcare
Alvin Sherman Library
Sport healthcare providers in team-based settings conduct functional testing to identify injury risk. Results are used in team-based injury prevention programs. This process is different than care for a patient once they become injured. Gait analyses are a functional test for runners. Therefore, we aimed to describe the bilateral running biomechanics in a university cross country team with emphasis on variables linked to running-related injury (RRI). Twenty-seven male (n=10) and female (n=17) distance runners (age, 18-23yrs; height, 1.82±0.57m; mass, 58.4±6.8 kg) from a single university team participated in this descriptive study. Gait was assessed during a treadmill run at a self-selected steadystate pace with a 10-camera motion capture system. Vicon Nexus software enabled calculation of maximum values (0) of bilateral midstance hip adduction (HADD), contralateral pelvis drop (CPD), rearfoot eversion (REV), ankle dorsiflexion (AKD) and knee flexion (KFLEX); and initial contact AKD and KFLEX. Data were explored relative to previous research findings linking these selected biomechanics to RRI in university runners. HADD (Lt. 10.5±3.80, Rt. 11.2±5.20) and CPD (Lt. - 7.1±2.80, Rt. -6.0±2.10) at midstance were considered excessive as compared to 9.00 and -5.00, respectively. All KFLEX [(midstance Rt. 40.1±7.30, Lt. 39.1±6.30) (initial contact Rt. 14.5±5.60, Lt. 13.7±5.40)], AKD [midstance Rt. 24.1±4.50, Lt. 24.1±5.70) (initial contact Rt. 3.5±6.00, Lt. 3.4±5.80) and REV (midstance Rt. 5.0±4.00, Lt. 4.4±3.90) were within normal limits. Results indicate sport healthcare providers in similar settings may expect to implement injury prevention programs to target dynamic frontal plane pelvis and hip control.
