A hierarchical cluster analysis to determine whether injured runners exhibit similar kinematic gait patterns

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that runners can be subgrouped based on homogeneous gait patterns; however, no previous study has assessed the presence of such subgroups in a population of individuals across a wide variety of injuries. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess whether distinct subgroups with homogeneous running patterns can be identified among a large group of injured and healthy runners and whether identified subgroups are associated with specific injury location. Three‐dimensional kinematic data from 291 injured and healthy runners, representing both sexes and a wide range of ages (10‐66 years), were clustered using hierarchical cluster analysis. Cluster analysis revealed five distinct subgroups from the data. Kinematic differences between the subgroups were compared using one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Against our hypothesis, runners with the same injury types did not cluster together, but the distribution of different injuries within subgroups was similar across the entire sample. These results suggest that homogeneous gait patterns exist independent of injury location and that it is important to consider these underlying patterns when planning injury prevention or rehabilitation strategies.

Subgroups of Foot-Ankle Movement Patterns Can Influence the Responsiveness to a Foot-Core Exercise Program: A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis

“…Furthermore, there was no difference in injury rates between the identified clusters, indicating that the associations between FA kinematic patterns and running-related injury etiology are not straightforward and still need further investigation. Other studies analyzing lower limb kinematics during running have identified subgroups with different movement patterns in major joints and segments, but did not find a significant association with injuries ( Dingenen et al, 2020 ; Jauhiainen et al, 2020 ), which corroborates with our results. There was a greater proportion of forefoot strikers in cluster 2, but both subgroups still included runners with both strike patterns, and the kinematic differences between clusters seem to be unrelated to this factor.…”

“…Asymptomatic runners have been reported to present subgroups of distinct hip, knee and ankle kinematic patterns ( Phinyomark et al, 2015 ). The presence of distinct subgroups with homogeneous running gait patterns have also been described among runners with different injuries, although the described patterns were not related to injury location ( Jauhiainen et al, 2020 ), and individuals with the same type of injury can exhibit different kinematic patterns ( Watari et al, 2016 ; Dingenen et al, 2020 ). However, this type of analysis was not extended to the FA complex.…”

Fatigue Induced Changes in Muscle Strength and Gait Following Two Different Intensity, Energy Expenditure Matched Runs

“…Statistical significance considers whether the probability that a mean response has happened by chance or not, while providing no information on the magnitude of response. Runners however develop RRIs on an individual not collective basis, a recent study by Jauhiainen et al (2020) corroborates our suggestion by recommending presenting individual of gait pattern. While not having a set criteria, Nicol et al (1991) reported that following a marathon, two individuals out of seven showed a different kinematic profile that was contrary to the main group findings.…”

Estimation of kinematics from inertial measurement units using a combined deep learning and optimization framework

“…To train the models, we used marker-based motion capture data that were previously collected at the University of Calgary Running Injury Clinic after receiving approval from the University of Calgary's Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (Ferber et al, 2016 [7]; Jauhiainen et al, 2020 [11]; Phinyomark et al, 2018 [19]; Pohl et al, 2010 [22]). Retro-reflective marker trajectories were collected at 200 Hz using eight high-speed infrared video cameras (Vicon Motion Systems Ltd., Oxford, UK).…”