title: Reduced eccentric loading of the knee with the pose running method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical changes during natural heel-toe running with learned midfoot and Pose running.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty heel-toe runners were instructed in midfoot running and a novel running style in which the acromium, greater trochanter, and lateral malleolus are aligned in stance (Pose running). Clinical gait analysis was performed for each running style and the biomechanical variables compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with midfoot and heel-toe running Pose running was characterized by shorter stride lengths and smaller vertical oscillations of the sacrum and left heel marker. Compared with midfoot and Pose running heel-toe running was characterized by greater magnitudes and loading rates of the vertical impact force. In preparation for initial contact, the knee flexed more in Pose than in heel-toe and midfoot running. The ankle at initial contact was neutral in Pose compared with a dorsiflexed and plantarflexed position in heel-toe and midfoot running, respectively. The knee power absorption and eccentric work were significant lower (P < 0.05) in Pose than in either heel-toe or midfoot running. In contrast, there was a higher power absorption and eccentric work at the ankle in Pose compared with heel-toe and midfoot running.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pose running was associated with shorter stride lengths, smaller vertical oscillations of the sacrum and left heel markers, a neutral ankle joint at initial contact, and lower eccentric work and power absorption at the knee than occurred in either midfoot or heel-toe running. The possibility that such gait differences could be associated with different types and frequencies of running injuries should be evaluated in controlled clinical trails.
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCT Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Research Unit, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, PO Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa. rarendse@sports.uct.ac.za
authors.forename: Regan E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Arendse
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Noakes
authors.forename: Liane B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Romanov
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schwellnus
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*