Increasing step width reduces the requirements for subtalar joint moments and powers

Maharaj, Jayishni N.; Murry, Lauren E.; Cresswell, Adrian Ben; Lichtwark, Glen A.

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.05.021

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Step width was larger in the LR condition, but if step width was the same across conditions our main findings of subtalar energetics would likely be even more pronounced based on previous evidence. 39 Furthermore, we did not assess the participant's gait in their own footwear and thus it is difficult to determine how well the NR condition resembles habitual gait characteristics. It could be that the foot-ankle biomechanical variables were different in the NR condition compared "Spring-Like" Function of the Subtalar Joint to these same variables while running in the participants own footwear.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

2021 ISB World Athletics Award for Biomechanics: The Subtalar Joint Maintains “Spring-Like” Function While Running in Footwear That Perturbs Foot Pronation

Asmussen

Lichtwark

Maharaj

2022

Journal of Applied Biomechanics

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Humans have the remarkable ability to run over variable terrains. During locomotion, however, humans are unstable in the mediolateral direction and this instability must be controlled actively—a goal that could be achieved in more ways than one. Walking research indicates that the subtalar joint absorbs energy in early stance and returns it in late stance, an attribute that is credited to the tibialis posterior muscle-tendon unit. The purpose of this study was to determine how humans (n = 11) adapt to mediolateral perturbations induced by custom-made 3D-printed “footwear” that either enhanced or reduced pronation of the subtalar joint (modeled as motion in 3 planes) while running (3 m/s). In all conditions, the subtalar joint absorbed energy (ie, negative mechanical work) in early stance followed by an immediate return of energy (ie, positive mechanical work) in late stance, demonstrating a “spring-like” behavior. These effects increased and decreased in footwear conditions that enhanced or reduced pronation (P ≤ .05), respectively. Of the recorded muscles, the tibialis posterior (P ≤ .05) appeared to actively change its activation in concert with the changes in joint energetics. We suggest that the “spring-like” behavior of the subtalar joint may be an inherent function that enables the lower limb to respond to mediolateral instabilities during running.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%