What differentiates rearfoot strike runners with low and high vertical load rates?

Runners with a rearfoot strike pattern typically show high vertical ground reaction force loading rates (LRs), that are associated with injuries, compared with forefoot strikers. However, some runners with a rearfoot strike pattern run in a way that reduces LRs. Our purpose was to identify differenc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gait & posture 2022-07, Vol.96, p.149-153
Main Authors: Johnson, Caleb D., Davis, Irene S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ankle
Ankle Joint
Biomechanical Phenomena
Gait
Humans
Joint stiffness
Kinetics
Mechanics
Running - injuries
Running gait
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Summary:Runners with a rearfoot strike pattern typically show high vertical ground reaction force loading rates (LRs), that are associated with injuries, compared with forefoot strikers. However, some runners with a rearfoot strike pattern run in a way that reduces LRs. Our purpose was to identify differences in running mechanics between rearfoot strike runners with high and low vertical LRs. 42 healthy runners, 21 with high (≥ 80.5 BW/s) and 21 with low (≤ 46.3 BW/s) LRs, were included in the current study. Lower extremity kinematic and kinetic data were then collected while participants ran along a 30 m runway. Running mechanics were calculated, including sagittal plane knee stiffness during early stance, the components of knee stiffness (Δ knee flexion and flexion moment), sagittal joint angles at initial contact, as well as cadence. The two LR groups were compared for differences in outcome variables using independent t-tests or Mann Whitney U tests. Knee stiffness was significantly lower in the low LR group (p 
ISSN:0966-6362
1879-2219
DOI:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.05.019