Acute effect of foot strike patterns on in vivo tibiotalar and subtalar joint kinematics during barefoot running

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Objective: Fatigue can affect the ankle kinematic characteristics of landing movements. Traditional marker-based motion capture techniques have difficulty in accurately obtaining the kinematics of the talocrural and subtalar joints. This study aimed to investigate the effects of fatigue on the talocrural and subtalar joints during the landing using dual fluoroscopic imaging system (DFIS).Methods: This study included fourteen healthy participants. The foot of each participant was scanned using magnetic resonance imaging to create 3D models. High-speed DFIS was used to capture images of the ankle joint during participants performing a single-leg landing jump from a height of 40 cm. Fatigue was induced by running and fluoroscopic images were captured before and after fatigue. Kinematic data were obtained by 3D/2D registration in virtual environment software. The joint kinematics in six degrees of freedom and range of motion (ROM) were compared between the unfatigued and fatigued conditions.Results: During landing, after the initial contact with the ground, the main movement of the talocrural joint is extension and abduction, while the subtalar joint mainly performs extension, eversion, and abduction. Compared to unfatigued, during fatigue the maximum medial translation (1.35 ± 0.45 mm vs. 1.86 ± 0.69 mm, p = 0.032) and medial-lateral ROM (3.19 ± 0.60 mm vs. 3.89 ± 0.96 mm, p = 0.029) of the talocrural joint significantly increased, the maximum flexion angle (0.83 ± 1.24°vs. 2.11° ± 1.80°, p = 0.037) of the subtalar joint significantly increased, and the flexion-extension ROM (6.17° ± 2.21° vs. 7.97° ± 2.52°, p = 0.043) of the subtalar joint significantly increased.Conclusion: This study contributes to the quantitative understanding of the normal function of the talocrural and subtalar joints during high-demand activities. During landing, the main movement of the talocrural joint is extension and abduction, while the subtalar joint mainly performs extension, eversion, and abduction. Under fatigue conditions, the partial ROM of the talocrural and subtalar joints increases.

“…Anatomic coordinate systems of the models were created by the same skilled researchers based on a previously described method ( Figure 1C ) ( Yamaguchi et al, 2009 ; Ye et al, 2023 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of fatigue on the in vivo kinematics and kinetics of talocrural and subtalar joint during landing

Luo,

Li,

et al. 2023

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“…A whole image of the foot during the stance phase was regarded as valid data if the right foot entered the acquisition area and the entire stance phase was captured. One valid data set was selected for each trial for analysis ( Campbell et al, 2016 ; Welte et al, 2021 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ; Ye et al, 2023 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, the dual-fluoroscopic imaging system (DFIS) has gradually been applied in the fields of sports analysis and injury prevention ( Cao et al, 2019 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ; Ye et al, 2023 ). DFIS has the advantages of non-invasiveness, highly accurate testing, high repeatability and ability to dynamically capture skeletal in vivo movement; it is not affected by skin and soft tissue movement.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of different habitual foot strike patterns on in vivo kinematics of the first metatarsophalangeal joint during shod running—a statistical parametric mapping study

Wu,

Sun,

et al. 2023

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Existing studies on the biomechanical characteristics of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (1st MTPJ) during shod running are limited to sagittal plane assessment and rely on skin marker motion capture, which can be affected by shoes wrapping around the 1st MTPJ and may lead to inaccurate results. This study aims to investigate the in vivo effects of different habitual foot strike patterns (FSP) on the six degrees of freedom (6DOF) values of the 1st MTPJ under shod condition by utilizing a dual-fluoroscopic imaging system (DFIS). Long-distance male runners with habitual forefoot strike (FFS group, n = 15) and rearfoot strike (RFS group, n = 15) patterns were recruited. All participants underwent foot computed tomography (CT) scan to generate 3D models of their foot. The 6DOF kinematics of the 1st MTPJ were collected using a DFIS at 100 Hz when participants performed their habitual FSP under shod conditions. Independent t-tests and one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping (1-d SPM) were employed to analyze the differences between the FFS and RFS groups’ 1st MTPJ 6DOF kinematic values during the stance phase. FFS exhibited greater superior translation (3.5–4.9 mm, p = 0.07) during 51%–82% of the stance and higher extension angle (8.4°–10.1°, p = 0.031) during 65%–75% of the stance in the 1st MTPJ than RFS. Meanwhile, FFS exhibited greater maximum superior translation (+3.2 mm, p = 0.022), maximum valgus angle (+6.1°, p = 0.048) and varus–valgus range of motion (ROM) (+6.5°, p = 0.005) in the 1st MTPJ during stance. The greater extension angle of the 1st MTPJ in the late stance suggested that running with FFS may enhance the propulsive effect. However, the higher maximum valgus angle and the ROM of varus–valgus in FFS may potentially lead to the development of hallux valgus.

“…With the development of cushioned running shoes, researchers found that 95.1% of recreational shod runners run with a rearfoot strike pattern (RFS) ( de Almeida et al, 2015 ). Considerable differences in the biomechanics of lower limb joints have been found among different foot strike patterns over the last 10 years ( Almeida et al, 2015 ; Yong et al, 2020 ; Xu et al, 2021 ; Ye et al, 2024 ). Compared with runners with a RFS, those with a forefoot strike pattern (FFS) exhibit greater knee flexion and ankle plantar flexion during initial contact ( Almeida et al, 2015 ) and greater plantar flexion torque during the early stance phase ( Kulmala et al, 2013 ; Gonzales et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of 12-week gait retraining on plantar flexion torque, architecture, and behavior of the medial gastrocnemius in vivo

Zhang,

Deng,

Zhang

et al. 2024

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Objective:This study aims to explore the effects of 12-week gait retraining (GR) on plantar flexion torque, architecture, and behavior of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) during maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC).Methods:Thirty healthy male rearfoot strikers were randomly assigned to the GR group (n = 15) and the control (CON) group (n = 15). The GR group was instructed to wear minimalist shoes and run with a forefoot strike pattern for the 12-week GR (3 times per week), whereas the CON group wore their own running shoes and ran with their original foot strike pattern. Participants were required to share screenshots of running tracks each time to ensure training supervision. The architecture and behavior of MG, as well as ankle torque data, were collected before and after the intervention. The architecture of MG, including fascicle length (FL), pennation angle, and muscle thickness, was obtained by measuring muscle morphology at rest using an ultrasound device. Ankle torque data during plantar flexion MVIC were obtained using a dynamometer, from which peak torque and early rate of torque development (RTD50) were calculated. The fascicle behavior of MG was simultaneously captured using an ultrasound device to calculate fascicle shortening, fascicle rotation, and maximal fascicle shortening velocity (Vmax).Results:After 12-week GR, 1) the RTD50 increased significantly in the GR group (p = 0.038), 2) normalized FL increased significantly in the GR group (p = 0.003), and 3) Vmax increased significantly in the GR group (p = 0.018).Conclusion:Compared to running training, GR significantly enhanced the rapid strength development capacity and contraction velocity of the MG. This indicates the potential of GR as a strategy to improve muscle function and mechanical efficiency, particularly in enhancing the ability of MG to generate and transmit force as well as the rapid contraction capability. Further research is necessary to explore the effects of GR on MG behavior during running in vivo.