Biomechanical effects following footstrike pattern modification using wearable sensors

Peter P K Chan; Zoe Y S Chan; Ivan P H Au; Ben M F Lam; W K Lam; Roy T H Cheung

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2020.05.019

Biomechanical effects following footstrike pattern modification using wearable sensors

J Sci Med Sport. 2021 Jan;24(1):30-35. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.05.019. Epub 2020 May 30.

Authors

Peter P K Chan¹, Zoe Y S Chan², Ivan P H Au³, Ben M F Lam³, W K Lam⁴, Roy T H Cheung⁵

Affiliations

¹ Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Electronic address: pk29chan@polyu.edu.hk.
² Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Canada.
³ Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
⁴ Department of Kinesiology, Shenyang Sport University, China; Li Ning Sports Science Research Center, China.
⁵ Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Australia.

PMID: 32553447
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.05.019

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to examine the biomechanical effects of an in-field sensor-based gait retraining program targeting footstrike pattern modification during level running, uphill running and downhill running.

Design: Quasi-experimental design.

Methods: Sixteen habitual rearfoot strikers were recruited. All participants underwent a baseline evaluation on an instrumented treadmill at their preferred running speeds on three slope settings. Participants were then instructed to modify their footstrike pattern from rearfoot to non-rearfoot strike with real-time audio biofeedback in an 8-session in-field gait retraining program. A reassessment was conducted to evaluate the post-training biomechanical effects. Footstrike pattern, footstrike angle, vertical instantaneous loading rate (VILR), stride length, cadence, and knee flexion angle at initial contact were measured and compared.

Results: No significant interaction was found between training and slope conditions for all tested variables. Significant main effects were observed for gait retraining (p-values≤0.02) and slopes (p-values≤0.01). After gait retraining, 75% of the participants modified their footstrike pattern during level running, but effects of footstrike pattern modification were inconsistent between slopes. During level running, participants exhibited a smaller footstrike angle (p≤0.01), reduced VILR (p≤0.01) and a larger knee flexion angle (p=0.01). Similar effects were found during uphill running, together with a shorter stride length (p=0.01) and an increased cadence (p≤0.01). However, during downhill running, no significant change in VILR was found (p=0.16), despite differences found in other biomechanical measurements (p-values=0.02-0.05).

Conclusion: An 8-session in-field gait retraining program was effective in modifying footstrike pattern among runners, but discrepancies in VILR, stride length and cadence were found between slope conditions.

Keywords: Biofeedback; In-field; Kinetics; Running; Slope; Training.

MeSH terms

Adult
Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology*
Feedback*
Foot / physiology
Gait / physiology
Gait Analysis / instrumentation
Gait Analysis / methods
Humans
Knee Joint / physiology
Middle Aged
Running / physiology*
Shoes
Wearable Electronic Devices*
Young Adult