Effects of Overweight and Obesity on Running Mechanics in Children

Abstract

Although obesity has been linked to several differences in walking mechanics, few studies have examined movement mechanics of overweight and obese (OW/OB) children performing higher impact activities, such as running.PurposeThe purpose of this study is to determine differences in running mechanics between healthy weight (HW) children and children classified as OW/OB.MethodsForty-two children (17 OW/OB, 25 HW) ran overground while kinematic and kinetic data were recorded using a motion capture system and force plate. Kinematic variables of interest included stance time, step length, and frontal and sagittal plane joint angles and excursions at the hip, knee, and ankle. Kinetic variables of interest included ground reaction forces and hip, knee, and ankle moments in the sagittal and frontal planes.ResultsThe OW/OB group spent more time in stance, took shorter steps, displayed less hip flexion during the first half of stance, had greater ankle inversion at foot strike, had greater knee abduction throughout stance, and had smaller knee flexion, knee adduction, and hip adduction excursions. In comparing unscaled ground reaction forces, the OW/OB group displayed greater peak vertical force, vertical impact peaks, and vertical loading rates. The OW/OB group also displayed greater unscaled plantar and dorsiflexion moments, knee flexion and extension moments, ankle inversion moments, and knee and hip abduction moments.ConclusionThese data suggest that increased body weight in children is associated with changes in running mechanics. Higher joint moments and ground reaction forces may indicate increased injury risk or the development of joint degeneration among overweight/obese children.

Biomechanical variations in children who are overweight and obese during high‐impact activities: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Detailed description of study selection and reasons for exclusion can be found in Figure 1. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool, seven articles were categorized as "high quality," 17,[31][32][33][34][35][36] and two article were categorized as "low quality" 37,38 (Table 2). Eight of the nine studies were cross-sectional designs, 17,[31][32][33][34][35]37,38 and one article was a randomized control trial.…”

“…Using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool, seven articles were categorized as "high quality," 17,[31][32][33][34][35][36] and two article were categorized as "low quality" 37,38 (Table 2). Eight of the nine studies were cross-sectional designs, 17,[31][32][33][34][35]37,38 and one article was a randomized control trial. 36 Meta-analysis was performed for stance time (I 2 = 28%), hip flexion angle (I 2 = 0%), and knee flexion angle (I 2 = 0%) due to low statistical heterogeneity (Figure 2).…”

“…29 Included studies in meta-analysis were 34,36,38 five analyzed OB, 17,31,32,35,37 and one analyzed OW/OB grouped together compared with HW. 33 OW and OB were defined differently depending on study design. Seven studies classified participants using body mass index percentile (BMI%) according to age and sex (>85th to 94th percentile considered OW, >95th percentile considered OB), 17,[31][32][33][34][35][36] one study used child reference curves for body fat percentile, 38 and one study did not report criteria used.…”

“…Meta-analysis revealed significant evidence that OW/OB demonstrate increased stance phase time during running (Figure 2, Table 3). 31,33 There was insufficient evidence to support any differences between HW and OW/OB in cycle length or cycle time. 31…”

Correlation between Body Mass Index and Physical Performance of Lower Extremity in Adult Athletes

“…An increased BMI influences musculoskeletal structural disorders due to rising proinflammatory adipokines and excessive load, especially in the lower extremities (Wearing et al 2006;Gupta et al 2007;Paz-Filho et al 2012;Tanaka, Narazaki, and Kishimoto 2014;Tomlinson et al 2016;Collins et al 2018;Yung and Giacca 2020). In addition, an increase in BMI stimulates an increase in fat mass associated with changes in body posture which result on the changes in the center of mass (COM) and momentum acting in the joints of the lower extremities (Foster et al 2010;Del Porto et al 2012;Bowser and Roles 2021).…”