Lower limb joint kinetics during moderately sloped running.
BACKGROUND
Knowledge of the kinetic changes that occur during sloped running is important in understanding the adaptive gait-control mechanisms at work and can provide additional information about the poorly understood relationship between injury and changes in kinetic forces in the lower extremity. A study of these potential kinetic changes merits consideration, because training and return-to-activity programs are potentially modifiable factors for tissue stress and injury risk.


OBJECTIVE
To contribute further to the understanding of hill running by quantifying the 3-dimensional alterations in joint kinetics during moderately sloped decline, level, and incline running in a group of healthy runners.


METHODS
Crossover study.


METHODS
Three-dimensional motion analysis laboratory.


METHODS
Nineteen healthy young runners/joggers (age = 25.3 +/- 2.5 years).


METHODS
Participants ran at 3.13 m/s on a treadmill under the following 3 different running-surface slope conditions: 4 degrees decline, level, and 4 degrees incline.


METHODS
Lower extremity joint moments and powers and the 3 components of the ground reaction force.


RESULTS
Moderate changes in running-surface slope had a minimal effect on ankle, knee, and hip joint kinetics when velocity was held constant. Only changes in knee power absorption (increased with decline-slope running) and hip power (increased generation on incline-slope running and increased absorption on decline-slope running in early stance) were noted. We observed an increase only in the impact peak of the vertical ground reaction force component during decline-slope running, whereas the nonvertical components displayed no differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Running style modifications associated with running on moderate slopes did not manifest as changes in 3-dimensional joint moments or in the active peaks of the ground reaction force. Our data indicate that running on level and moderately inclined slopes appears to be a safe component of training regimens and return-to-run protocols after injury.
Telhan
Gaurav
G
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-1004, USA.
Franz
Jason R
JR
Dicharry
Jay
J
Wilder
Robert P
RP
Riley
Patrick O
PO
Kerrigan
D Casey
DC
D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology*; D007719:Knee Joint; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult