Foot strike patterns of recreational and sub-elite runners in a long-distance road race

NewsBot · Nov 18, 2011

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Foot strike patterns of recreational and sub-elite runners in a long-distance road race
Peter Larsona, Erin Higgins, Justin Kaminski, Tamara Decker, Janine Preble, Daniela Lyons, Kevin McIntyre & Adam Normile
Journal of Sports Sciences

Although the biomechanical properties of the various types of running foot strike (rearfoot, midfoot, and forefoot) have been studied extensively in the laboratory, only a few studies have attempted to quantify the frequency of running foot strike variants among runners in competitive road races. We classified the left and right foot strike patterns of 936 distance runners, most of whom would be considered of recreational or sub-elite ability, at the 10 km point of a half-marathon/marathon road race. We classified 88.9% of runners at the 10 km point as rearfoot strikers, 3.4% as midfoot strikers, 1.8% as forefoot strikers, and 5.9% of runners exhibited discrete foot strike asymmetry. Rearfoot striking was more common among our sample of mostly recreational distance runners than has been previously reported for samples of faster runners. We also compared foot strike patterns of 286 individual marathon runners between the 10 km and 32 km race locations and observed increased frequency of rearfoot striking at 32 km. A large percentage of runners switched from midfoot and forefoot foot strikes at 10 km to rearfoot strikes at 32 km. The frequency of discrete foot strike asymmetry declined from the 10 km to the 32 km location. Among marathon runners, we found no significant relationship between foot strike patterns and race times.
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NewsBot · Mar 3, 2017

Kinematic Gait Patterns in Competitive and Recreational Runners
Christian A. Clermont, Sean T. Osis, Angkoon Phinyomark, Reed Ferber
Journal of Applied Biomechanics Ahead of Print

Certain homogeneous running subgroups demonstrate distinct kinematic patterns in running; however, the running mechanics of competitive and recreational runners are not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether we could separate and classify competitive and recreational runners according to gait kinematics using multivariate analyses and a machine learning approach. Participants were allocated to the ‘competitive’ (n=20) or ‘recreational’ group (n=15) based on age, gender, and recent race performance. Three-dimensional (3D) kinematic data were collected during treadmill running at 2.7m/s. A support vector machine (SVM) was used to determine if the groups were separable and classifiable based on kinematic time point variables as well as principal component (PC) scores. A cross-fold classification accuracy of 80% was found between groups using the top five ranked time point variables, and the groups could be separated with 100% cross-fold classification accuracy using the top 14 ranked PCs explaining 60.29% of the variance in the data. The features were primarily related to pelvic tilt, as well as knee flexion and ankle eversion in late stance. These results suggest that competitive and recreational runners have distinct, ‘typical’ running patterns that may help explain differences in injury mechanisms.
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NewsBot · Jun 3, 2018

Dynamic Hip Strength and Footfall Patterns in
Competitive Distance Runners
Tyler J. Moffit, Brett K. Post, Melissa M. Montgomery, Robert
G. Lockie, Derek N. Pamukoff.
Presented at ACSM Mtg, 2018

PURPOSE: Foot strike pattern during running can contribute to lower extremity
overuse injuries such as stress fracture, potentially due to high loading rates (LR).
However, adopting a forefoot strike (FF) may require additional lower extremity
strength due to the greater demand placed on the gluteal muscles compared to a
rearfoot strike. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between
hip extensor strength, foot strike pattern, and LR. It was hypothesized that greater
hip extensor strength would be associated with a FF pattern, and a lower LR.
METHODS: 23 uninjured, collegiate distance runners (91% male, age=21.9±2.5
years, height=1.77±0.06 m, mass=64.15±6.6 kg, running volume=82.55±17.45 km/
week) who were resistance trained were recruited for this study. Hip extensor strength
was assessed via maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) on an isokinetic
dynamometer and 1-repetition maximum back squat (1RM BS). LR and foot strike
index (FSI) were assessed during 5 overground running trials at the participant’s
preferred training pace. FSI was calculated as the distance (m) between the center
of pressure and location of the calcaneal marker at initial contact relative to the
participant’s foot length (m). The highest MVIC peak torque (PT; N/kg) and 1RM
BS, median FSI, and average LR (body weight/second) of the 5 trials were used for
analysis. Spearman Rho and partial correlations were used to determine relationships
between dependent variables. RESULTS: Greater 1RM BS was associated with a
larger FSI (rho=0.499, p=0.018). Greater FSI was associated with lesser LR (rho=-
0.494, p=0.017). Greater 1RM BS and lesser LR were not significantly associated (r=-
0.394, p=0.077). PT was not associated with FSI or LR. CONCLUSIONS: Runners
with greater 1RM BS land in a more FF position and with lower LR. These findings
emphasize the contribution of hip extensor strength to running mechanics, and justify
the selection of the back squat for runners.
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NewsBot · Jun 3, 2018

Increased Foot And Tibial Angles at Footstrike
Decrease Vertical Loadrates in Runners
Haylee E. Donaghe Borgstrom, Adam S. Tenforde, Robert
Diaz1, Steve T. Jamison, Irene S. Davis, FACSM
Presented at ACSM Mtg, 2018

High vertical loadrates are a risk factor for running injuries. Overstriding is thought
to increase loadrates, and is indicated by increased foot and tibial angles at footstrike.
However, the relationship between landing alignment and loadrates has not been well
established.
PURPOSE: To investigate the association between sagittal plane foot angle (FA) and
tibial angle (TA) to vertical loadrates in both healthy and injured forefoot (FFS) and
rearfoot strike (RFS) runners.
METHODS: This is an ongoing study with 52 healthy runners (35 RFS, 17 FFS)
and 24 injured runners (14 RFS, 10 FFS) for a total of 76 runners (51 M, 25 F; age:
34.3±11.4 yrs). Vertical average loadrate (VALR) and vertical instantaneous loadrate
(VILR) were obtained while running at 2.68 m/s on an instrumented treadmill.
All runners reported 0/10 pain during the assessment. Sagittal plane FA and TA
at footstrike were measured from video recording using an open-source program.
Positive FA designated RFS. Positive TA defined as ankle anterior to knee. Correlation
coefficients (r) were computed for FA and TA with VALR and VILR (p≤0.05; trend: p
≤0.10).
RESULTS: Healthy RFS - FA and TA were negatively correlated with VALR and
VILR. Injured RFS - Trend toward negative correlation between TA and both VALR
and VILR. Healthy FFS - TA was negatively correlated with both loadrates. Injured
FFS - No significant correlations.
CONCLUSION: In contrast to current thought, preliminary results suggest that
increasing FA and TA at footstrike are associated with decreasing vertical loadrates.
This relationship was strongest for the FA of healthy RFS runners and weakest for the
FA of both healthy and injured FFS runners.
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NewsBot · May 30, 2019

Comparison of plantar loads among runners with different strike patterns
Zhen Wei ORCID Icon, Zhiwang Zhang, Jiayi Jiang, Yu Zhang & Lin Wang
Journal of Sports Sciences : 28 May 2019

This study aimed to explore the plantar loading variables between habitual rearfoot strike (RFS) and non-rearfoot strike (NRFS) during running. 78 healthy males participated in this study (41 RFS, 37 NRFS). In-shoe pressure sensors were used to measure plantar loading while the participants were running on a 15 m indoor runway with their preferred foot strike pattern (FSP) at 12.0 ± 5% km/h. Results indicate that force and pressure parameters were much higher in the rearfoot and midfoot regions during RFS running and relatively greater in forefoot region during NRFS running. However, compared with NRFS running, the contact area, maximum force and force-time-integrals during RFS running on total foot were 21.44% (P < 0.001, ES = 2.29), 13.99% (P = 0.006, ES = 0.64) and 21.27% (P < 0.001, ES = 0.85) higher, respectively. Total foot peak pressure and pressure-time-integral between two FSPs were similar. Higher loads in the rearfoot region may transmit to the knee joint and result in patellofemoral joint injuries. NRFS runners’ higher loads in forefoot seem to be ralated to metatarsal stress fractures and compensatory damage to the Achilles tendon. Therefore, runners should choose proper FSPs according to their unique physical conditions.
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