title: A prospective study on gait-related intrinsic risk factors for lower leg overuse injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine prospectively gait-related risk factors for lower leg overuse injury (LLOI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male and female recruits from a start-to-run (STR) programme during a 10-week training period.
  
  
  METHODS
  131 healthy subjects (20 men and 111 women), without a history of any lower leg complaint, participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Before the start of the 10-week STR programme, plantar force measurements during running were performed. During STR, lower leg injuries were diagnosed and registered by a sports physician.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plantar force measurements during running were performed using a footscan pressure plate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the STR, 27 subjects (five men and 22 women) developed a LLOI. Logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects who developed a LLOI had a significantly more laterally directed force distribution at first metatarsal contact and forefoot flat, a more laterally directed force displacement in the forefoot contact phase, foot flat phase and at heel-off. These subjects also had a delayed change of the centre of force (COF) at forefoot flat, a higher force and loading underneath the lateral border of the foot, and a significantly higher directed force displacement of the COF at forefoot flat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that a less pronated heel strike and a more laterally directed roll-off can be considered as risk factors for LLOI. Clinically, the results of this study can be considered important in identifying individuals at risk of LLOI.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 3B3 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Narmin.Ghanizadehhesar@ugent.be
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghani Zadeh Hesar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Ginckel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cools
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peersman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roosen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Clercq
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Witvrouw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries*