Reliability of video-based identification of footstrike pattern and video time frame at initial contact in recreational runners.
BACKGROUND
Two-dimensional video recordings are used in clinical practice to identify footstrike pattern. However, knowledge about the reliability of this method of identification is limited.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate intra- and inter-rater reliability of visual identification of footstrike pattern and video time frame at initial contact during treadmill running using two-dimensional (2D) video recordings.


METHODS
Thirty-one recreational runners were recorded twice, 1 week apart, with a high-speed video camera. Two blinded raters evaluated each video twice with an interval of at least 14 days.


RESULTS
Kappa values for within-day identification of footstrike pattern revealed intra-rater agreement of 0.83-0.88 and inter-rater agreement of 0.50-0.63. Corresponding figures for between-day identification of footstrike pattern were 0.63-0.69 and 0.41-0.53, respectively. Identification of video time frame at initial contact ranged from five frames to 12 frames (95% limits of agreement).


CONCLUSIONS
For clinical use, the intra-rater within-day identification of footstrike pattern is highly reliable (kappa>0.80). For the inter-rater between-day identification inconsistencies may, in worst case, occur in 36% of the identifications (kappa=0.41). The 95% limits of agreement for identification of video time frame at initial contact may, at times, allow for different identification of footstrike pattern. Clinicians should, therefore, be encouraged to continue using clinical 2D video setups for intra-rater identification of footstrike pattern, but bear in mind the restrictions related to the between day identifications.
Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark. Electronic address: camma@ph.au.dk.
C
C
Damsted
University Collage of Northern Jutland, Selma Lagerloefs Vej 2, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark.
L H
LH
Larsen
Section of Sport Science, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, Aarhus University, Dalgas Avenue 4, Room 438, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
R O
RO
Nielsen
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000502:physiology; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006365:Heel / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology
Footstrike pattern; Reliability; Running; Two-dimensional motion analysis; Video time frame at initial contact