title: Impact attenuation and variability during running in females: a lifespan investigation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impact is known to cause injury during running, while variability is thought to promote healthy performance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Quantify contributions of the lower extremity and back and the variability of impact generation among (1) prepubescent girls (Grp 1), (2) normally menstruating women (Grp 2), and (3) postmenopausal women (Grp 3) to address possible lifespan changes during running.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed model experiment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biomechanics Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  31 healthy females owing membership to Grp1, Grp 2, or Grp 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants ran on a treadmill at their preferred speed (45 s) and at a speed 10% faster (45 s) while instrumented with uniaxial accelerometers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lower extremity attenuation, back attenuation and variability of peak impact acceleration values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower extremity attenuation and variability were greatest for Grp 1 while impact variability was least for Grp 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lifespan phases appear to affect impact attenuation strategies and variability of impact during running for females.
authors: Sports Injury Research Center, Biomechanics laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA. jdufek@unlv.nevada.edu
authors: Janet S
authors: JS
authors: Dufek
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Mercer
authors: Kaori
authors: K
authors: Teramoto
authors: Brent C
authors: BC
authors: Mangus
authors: Julia A
authors: JA
authors: Freedman
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001415:Back; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult