title: Comparison of longitudinal biomechanical adaptation to shoe degradation between the dominant and non-dominant legs during running.
abstract: This study compared the biomechanical adaptation to running shoe degradation between the dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) leg. Twenty-four runners performed a pre-test in the laboratory, completed 200 miles of road running in a pair of assigned shoes and then returned for a post-test. Kinetic and kinematic data of running in new and worn shoes were collected. Repeated measures ANOVA (Shoe×Leg) were used to analyze temporal, kinetic and kinematic variables (α=.05). A symmetry index (SI) was calculated for the temporal and kinetic variables and paired t-tests were used to compare the SI between shoe conditions. Stance time increased by approximately 7 ms in worn shoes (p=.027). Bilateral differences in the kinematic change (Shoe×Leg interaction) were seen in the torso (p<.05), knee (p<.05), marginally at the hip (p<.10) but not the ankle. No difference in kinetic variables or SI was observed. When running in worn shoes, the torso displayed reduced forward lean for both sides and to a greater extent during the D leg strike. The D hip and knee showed a more extended position for the worn shoe condition while an increased flexion was observed in the ND leg. Most of the kinematic differences observed were small and within the intra-subject variability measured during the same session. Future studies may consider performing a three-dimensional analysis at a higher sample rate and further explore whether asymmetrical adaptation is related to running injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at El Paso, USA. puiwah.kong@nie.edu.sg
authors.forename: Pui W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Norma G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Candelaria
authors.forename: Darla
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000502:physiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012775:Shoes; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult