Foot strike pattern, step rate, and trunk posture combined gait modifications to reduce impact loading during running

Yangjian Huang; Haisheng Xia; Gang Chen; Sulin Cheng; Roy T H Cheung; Peter B Shull

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.01.058

Foot strike pattern, step rate, and trunk posture combined gait modifications to reduce impact loading during running

J Biomech. 2019 Mar 27:86:102-109. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.01.058. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Authors

Yangjian Huang¹, Haisheng Xia¹, Gang Chen², Sulin Cheng³, Roy T H Cheung⁴, Peter B Shull⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
² Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
³ Exercise Health and Technology Center, Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland.
⁴ Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. Electronic address: pshull@sjtu.edu.cn.

PMID: 30792072
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.01.058

Abstract

Elevated impact loading can be detrimental to runners as it has been linked to the increased risk of tibial stress fracture and plantar fasciitis. The objective of this study was to investigate the combined effects of foot strike pattern, step rate, and anterior trunk lean gait modifications on impact loading in runners. Nineteen healthy runners performed 12 separate gait modification trials involving: three foot strike patterns (rearfoot, midfoot, and forefoot strike), two step rates (natural and 10% increased), and two anterior trunk lean postures (natural and 10-degree increased flexion). Overall, forefoot strike combined with increased step rate led to the lowest impact loading rates, and rearfoot strike combined with anterior trunk lean led to the highest impact loading rates. In addition, there were interaction effects between foot strike pattern and step rate on awkwardness and effort, such that it was both more natural and easier to transition to a combined gait modification involving forefoot strike and increased step rate than to an isolated gait modification involving either forefoot strike or increased step rate. These findings could help to inform gait modifications for runners to reduce impact loading and associated injury risks.

Keywords: Cadence; Distance runners; Landing pattern; Posture; Vertical loading.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Biomechanical Phenomena
Female
Foot / physiology*
Fractures, Stress / prevention & control
Gait*
Humans
Male
Posture / physiology*
Range of Motion, Articular
Running*
Tibial Fractures / prevention & control
Torso / physiology