title: Immediate effects of modified landing pattern on a probabilistic tibial stress fracture model in runners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tibial stress fracture is a common injury in runners. This condition has been associated with increased impact loading. Since vertical loading rates are related to the landing pattern, many heelstrike runners attempt to modify their footfalls for a lower risk of tibial stress fracture. Such effect of modified landing pattern remains unknown. This study examined the immediate effects of landing pattern modification on the probability of tibial stress fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen experienced heelstrike runners ran on an instrumented treadmill and they were given augmented feedback for landing pattern switch. We measured their running kinematics and kinetics during different landing patterns. Ankle joint contact force and peak tibial strains were estimated using computational models. We used an established mathematical model to determine the effect of landing pattern on stress fracture probability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heelstrike runners experienced greater impact loading immediately after landing pattern switch (P<0.004). There was an increase in the longitudinal ankle joint contact force when they landed with forefoot (P=0.003). However, there was no significant difference in both peak tibial strains and the risk of tibial stress fracture in runners with different landing patterns (P>0.986).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immediate transitioning of the landing pattern in heelstrike runners may not offer timely protection against tibial stress fracture, despite a reduction of impact loading. Long-term effects of landing pattern switch remains unknown.
authors.affiliation: Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Z Y S
authors.initials: ZYS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: I P H
authors.initials: IPH
authors.lastname: Au
authors.affiliation: Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Electronic address: Roy.Cheung@polyu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: R T H
authors.initials: RTH
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Footstrike; Kinetics; Modeling; Risk