One major drawback in measuring ground-reaction forces during running is that it is time consuming to get representative ground-reaction force (GRF) values with a traditional force platform. An ...instrumented force measuring treadmill can overcome the shortcomings inherent to overground testing. The purpose of the current study was to determine the validity of an instrumented force measuring treadmill for measuring vertical ground-reaction force parameters during running.
Vertical ground-reaction forces of experienced runners (12 male, 12 female) were obtained during overground and treadmill running at slow, preferred and fast self-selected running speeds. For each runner, 7 mean vertical ground-reaction force parameters of the right leg were calculated based on five successful overground steps and 30 seconds of treadmill running data. Intraclass correlations (ICC₃,₁) and ratio limits of agreement (RLOA) were used for further analysis.
Qualitatively, the overground and treadmill ground-reaction force curves for heelstrike runners and non-heelstrike runners were very similar. Quantitatively, the time-related parameters and active peak showed excellent agreement (ICCs between 0.76 and 0.95, RLOA between 5.7% and 15.5%). Impact peak showed modest agreement (ICCs between 0.71 and 0.76, RLOA between 19.9% and 28.8%). The maximal and average loading-rate showed modest to excellent ICCs (between 0.70 and 0.89), but RLOA were higher (between 34.3% and 45.4%).
The results of this study demonstrated that the treadmill is a moderate to highly valid tool for the assessment of vertical ground-reaction forces during running for runners who showed a consistent landing strategy during overground and treadmill running. The high stride-to-stride variance during both overground and treadmill running demonstrates the importance of measuring sufficient steps for representative ground-reaction force values. Therefore, an instrumented treadmill seems to be suitable for measuring representative vertical ground-reaction forces during running.
To determine the proportion of participants of a running program for novice runners that discontinued running and investigate the main reasons to discontinue and characteristics associated with ...discontinuation.
Prospective cohort study.
The study included 774 participants of Start to Run, a 6-week running program for novice runners. Before the start of the program, participants filled-in a baseline questionnaire to collect information on demographics, physical activity and perceived health. The 26-weeks follow-up questionnaire was used to obtain information on the continuation of running (yes/no) and main reasons for discontinuation. To determine predictors for discontinuation of running, multivariable logistic regression was performed.
Within 26 weeks after the start of the 6-week running program, 29.5% of the novice runners (n=225) had stopped running. The main reason for discontinuation was a running-related injury (n=108, 48%). Being female (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.13–2.68), being unsure about the continuation of running after the program (OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.31–3.24) and (almost) no alcohol use (OR 1.62; 95%CI 1.11–2.37) were associated with a higher chance of discontinuation of running. Previous running experience less than one year previously (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.26–0.83) and a higher score on the RAND-36 subscale physical functioning (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.96–0.99) were associated with a lower chance of discontinuation.
In this group of novice runners, almost one-third stopped running within six months. A running-related injury was the main reason to stop running. Women with a low perceived physical functioning and without running experience were prone to discontinue running.
Abstract Objectives Despite several consensus statements, different injury definitions are used in the literature. This study aimed to identify the impact of different injury definitions on the ...nature and incidence of complaints captured during a short-term running program for novice runners. Design Prospective cohort study. Methods 1696 participants completed weekly diaries on running exposure and musculoskeletal complaints during a 6-week running program. These data were used to compare six different injury definitions (presence of running-related pain, training-reduction, time-loss of one day or one week). Injuries were registered under these different definitions. Consequently incidence and the nature of complaints were compared between definitions. Results The different injury definitions resulted in incidences that varied between 7.5% and 58.0%, or 18.7 and 239.6 injuries per 1000 h of running. The median duration of injury complaints was 4–7 days for injuries registered under a ‘day definition’, while complaints registered under a ‘week definition’ lasted 20–22 days. For running-related pain injuries the median of the maximum amount of pain was 3.0. In training-reduction and time-loss injuries these median values were scored between 5.0 and 7.0. No significant differences in anatomical locations between injuries that were registered under a ‘day definition’ or a ‘week definition’ were found. Injuries registered under a time-loss definition were located relatively more often at the knee, while complaints at the pelvis/sacrum/buttock were captured more often under a running-related pain definition. Conclusions Injury definitions largely impact injury incidence. Location of injury is also affected by choice of injury definition. This stressed the need for standardized injury registration methods.
Highlights • The forefoot plantar pressure was significantly reduced by the rocker shoes. • The pressure at the heel region was higher with the rocker shoes. • Shoe comfort of rocker shoes was lower ...than standard shoes. • Rocker shoes have the capability to reduce the forefoot plantar pressure in female healthy subjects in running. • Rocker shoes might be beneficial for recovering from metatarsalgia or stress fractures of the forefoot.
Background
Many runners suffer from injuries. No information on high-risk populations is available so far though.
Objectives
The aims of this study were to systematically review injury proportions in ...different populations of runners and to compare injury locations between these populations.
Data Sources
An electronic search with no date restrictions was conducted up to February 2014 in the PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science databases. The search was limited to original articles written in English. The reference lists of the included articles were checked for potentially relevant studies.
Study Eligibility Criteria
Studies were eligible when the proportion of running injuries was reported and the participants belonged to one or more homogeneous populations of runners that were clearly described. Study selection was conducted by two independent reviewers, and disagreements were resolved in a consensus meeting.
Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods
Details of the study design, population of runners, sample size, injury definition, method of injury assessment, number of injuries and injury locations were extracted from the articles. The risk of bias was assessed with a scale consisting of eight items, which was specifically developed for studies focusing on musculoskeletal complaints.
Results
A total of 86 articles were included in this review. Where possible, injury proportions were pooled for each identified population of runners, using a random-effects model. Injury proportions were affected by injury definitions and durations of follow-up. Large differences between populations existed. The number of medical-attention injuries during an event was small for most populations of runners, except for ultra-marathon runners, in which the pooled estimate was 65.6 %. Time-loss injury proportions between different populations of runners ranged from 3.2 % in cross-country runners to 84.9 % in novice runners. Overall, the proportions were highest among short-distance track runners and ultra-marathon runners.
Limitations
The results were pooled by stratification of studies according to the population, injury definition and follow-up/recall period; however, heterogeneity was high.
Conclusions
Large differences in injury proportions between different populations of runners existed. Injury proportions were affected by the duration of follow-up. A U-shaped pattern between the running distance and the time-loss injury proportion seemed to exist. Future prospective studies of injury surveillance are highly recommended to take running exposure and censoring into account.
Abstract Objectives This prospective study examined differences in kinetic variables between injured and noninjured novice female and male runners and their potential contribution to RRIs. Design A ...prospective cohort study. Methods At baseline vertical ground reaction forces were assessed with an instrumented treadmill equipped with three force measuring transducers. Female participants ran at 8 and 9 km h−1 and male runners ran at 9 and 10 km h−1 . Primary outcome measure was a running related injury (RRI). Participants were novice female and male recreational runners and were followed during a 9-week running program with three running sessions a week. Results One hundred thirty three female and seventy seven male runners participated in this study. Mean age was 37.2 years and the BMI was 23.9 kg m−2 . During the nine week running program 16.2% of the participants sustained an injury and no difference in incidence between female and male runners was seen. In injured male runners loading rate was significantly higher compared to noninjured male runners at both running speeds and contact time in the injured male group was significantly shorter at 9 km h−1 . In the group of female injured and noninjured runners no differences on kinetic or spatio-temporal variables were observed. Female runners had significantly higher loading rates compared to male runners but this did not have an effect on the incidence of RRIs. Conclusions This study showed that male injured runners had higher loading rates and shorter contact times than noninjured male runners. In female runners, however, no differences in kinetic or spatio-temporal variables were observed between injured and noninjured novice runners.
To describe absenteeism and health care utilization (HCU) within 6 weeks after occurrence of running-related injuries (RRIs) among novice runners and to explore differences relating to injury and ...personal characteristics.
Prospective cohort study.
Primary care.
One thousand six hundred ninety-six novice runners (18-65 years) participating in a 6-week running program ("Start-to-Run").
Injury characteristics were assessed by weekly training logs and personal characteristics by a baseline questionnaire. Data on absenteeism and HCU were collected using questionnaires at 2 and 6 weeks after the RRI occurred.
A total of 185 novice runners (11%) reported an RRI during the 6-week program. Of these injured novice runners, 78% reported absence from sports, whereas only 4% reported absence from work. Fifty-one percent of the injured novice runners visited a health care professional, mostly physical therapists (PTs) rather than physicians. Absenteeism was more common among women than men and was also more common with acute RRIs than gradual-onset RRIs. As regards HCU, both the variety of professionals visited and the number of PT visits were higher among runners with muscle-tendon injuries in the ankle/foot region than among those with other RRIs.
Among novice runners sustaining an RRI during a 6-week running program, over three quarters reported short-term absence from sports, whereas absence from work was very limited, and over half used professional health care. Both absence and HCU are associated with injury characteristics.
In future running promotion programs (eg in Start-to-Run programs), specific attention should be paid to acute injuries and to muscle-tendon injuries in the ankle/foot region.
To investigate the prognosis and possible prognostic factors of running-related injuries (RRIs) in novice runners.
Prospective cohort study.
Participants of Start to Run, a 6-weeks course for novice ...runners in The Netherlands, were asked to participate in this study. Before the start of the course a baseline questionnaire, on demographics, physical activity and perceived health, was sent to runners willing to participate. The 26- or 52-weeks follow-up questionnaires assessed information on RRIs and their duration. Only participants that sustained a RRI during follow-up were included in the analyses. An injury duration of 10weeks or shorter was regarded as a relatively good prognosis, while an injury duration of more than 10weeks was defined as a poor prognosis. To determine the associations between baseline characteristics and injury prognosis and between injury location and injury prognosis, multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.
347 participants (48.8%) sustained an RRI during follow-up. The RRIs had an overall median duration of eight weeks (range: 1–52weeks). Participants with a previous RRI were more likely to have a poor prognosis (OR 2.31; 95%CI 1.12–4.79), while a calf injury showed a trend towards an association with a relatively good prognosis (OR 0.49; 95%CI 0.22–1.11).
The duration of RRIs in novice runners is relatively long, with only calf injuries being associated with a good prognosis. This emphasizes the need of injury prevention measures in novice runners and adequate support during and after an RRI, especially in runners with a previous injury.
Abstract Objectives The incidence of running-related injuries is high. Some risk factors for injury were identified in novice runners, however, not much is known about the effect of training factors ...on injury risk. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the associations between training factors and running-related injuries in novice runners, taking the time varying nature of these training-related factors into account. Design Prospective cohort study. Methods 1696 participants completed weekly diaries on running exposure and injuries during a 6-week running program for novice runners. Total running volume (min), frequency and mean intensity (Rate of Perceived Exertion) were calculated for the seven days prior to each training session. The association of these time-varying variables with injury was determined in an extended Cox regression analysis. Results The results of the multivariable analysis showed that running with a higher intensity in the previous week was associated with a higher injury risk. Running frequency was not significantly associated with injury, however a trend towards running three times per week being more hazardous than two times could be observed. Finally, lower running volume was associated with a higher risk of sustaining an injury. Conclusions These results suggest that running more than 60 min at a lower intensity is least injurious. This finding is contrary to our expectations and is presumably the result of other factors. Therefore, the findings should not be used plainly as a guideline for novices. More research is needed to establish the person-specific training patterns that are associated with injury.
Biomechanics of running with rocker shoes Sobhani, Sobhan; van den Heuvel, Edwin R; Dekker, Rienk ...
Journal of science and medicine in sport,
01/2017, Letnik:
20, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Abstract Objectives Load reduction is an important consideration in conservative management of tendon overuse injuries such as Achilles tendinopathy. Previous research has shown that the use of ...rocker shoes can reduce the positive ankle power and plantar flexion moment which might help in unloading the Achilles tendon. Despite this promising implication of rocker shoes, the effects on hip and knee biomechanics remain unclear. Moreover, the effect of wearing rocker shoes on different running strike types is unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate biomechanics of the ankle, knee and hip joints and the role of strike type on these outcomes. Design Randomized cross-over study. Methods In this study, 16 female endurance runners underwent three-dimensional gait analysis wearing rocker shoes and standard shoes. We examined work, moments, and angles of the ankle, knee and hip during the stance phase of running. Results In comparison with standard shoes, running with rocker shoes significantly ( p < 0.001) reduced the positive (16%), and negative (32%) work at the ankle joint. Plantar flexion moment peak and impulse were also reduced by 11% and 12%, respectively. Reduction in these variables was almost two times larger for midfoot strikers than for rearfoot strikers. At the knee joint running with rocker shoes significantly increased the positive work (14%), extension moment peak (6%), and extension moment impulse (12%). Conclusions These findings indicate that although running with rocker shoes might lower mechanical load on the Achilles tendon, it could increase the risk of overuse injuries of the knee joint.
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