KeepRunning: A MoCap-Based Rapid Test to Prevent Musculoskeletal Running Injuries

Javier Rodríguez; Javier Marín; Ana C Royo; Luis Padrón; Manuel Pérez-Soto; José J Marín

doi:10.3390/s23239336

KeepRunning: A MoCap-Based Rapid Test to Prevent Musculoskeletal Running Injuries

Sensors (Basel). 2023 Nov 22;23(23):9336. doi: 10.3390/s23239336.

Authors

Javier Rodríguez¹, Javier Marín^{1

2}, Ana C Royo^{1

2}, Luis Padrón^{1

3}, Manuel Pérez-Soto^{1

2}, José J Marín^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ IDERGO (Research and Development in Ergonomics), I3A (Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón), University of Zaragoza, C/María de Luna, 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
² Department of Design and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Zaragoza, C/María de Luna, 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
³ Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, C/Mariano Esquillor s/n, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.

Abstract

The worldwide popularisation of running as a sport and recreational practice has led to a high rate of musculoskeletal injuries, usually caused by a lack of knowledge about the most suitable running technique for each runner. This running technique is determined by a runner's anthropometric body characteristics, dexterity and skill. Therefore, this study aims to develop a motion capture-based running analysis test on a treadmill called KeepRunning to obtain running patterns rapidly, which will aid coaches and clinicians in assessing changes in running technique considering changes in the study variables. Therefore, a review and proposal of the most representative events and variables of analysis in running was conducted to develop the KeepRunning test. Likewise, the minimal detectable change (MDC) in these variables was obtained using test-retest reliability to demonstrate the reproducibility and viability of the test, as well as the use of MDC as a threshold for future assessments. The test-retest consisted of 32 healthy volunteer athletes with a running training routine of at least 15 km per week repeating the test twice. In each test, clusters of markers were placed on the runners' body segments using elastic bands and the volunteers' movements were captured while running on a treadmill. In this study, reproducibility was defined by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and MDC, obtaining a mean value of ICC = 0.94 ± 0.05 for all variables and MDC = 2.73 ± 1.16° for the angular kinematic variables. The results obtained in the test-retest reveal that the reproducibility of the test was similar or better than that found in the literature. KeepRunning is a running analysis test that provides data from the involved body segments rapidly and easily interpretable. This data allows clinicians and coaches to objectively provide indications for runners to improve their running technique and avoid possible injury. The proposed test can be used in the future with inertial motion capture and other wearable technologies.

Keywords: biomechanics; injury prevention; minimal detectable change (MDC); optical motion capture (MoCap); reproducibility; running pattern; running technique.

MeSH terms

Biomechanical Phenomena
Humans
Prothrombin Time
Reproducibility of Results
Wearable Electronic Devices*

Substances

ethoprop

Grants and funding

The project was co-financed by the Government of Aragon, the European Regional Development Fund and the I3A—University Institute of Engineering Research of Aragon of the University of Zaragoza (Spain). The author, Manuel Pérez Soto, was co-financed by the European Union with NextGeneration EU funds in the Investigo Program.