Surface effects on dynamic stability and loading during outdoor running using wireless trunk accelerometry.
Despite frequently declared benefits of using wireless accelerometers to assess running gait in real-world settings, available research is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate outdoor surface effects on dynamic stability and dynamic loading during running using tri-axial trunk accelerometry. Twenty eight runners (11 highly-trained, 17 recreational) performed outdoor running on three outdoor training surfaces (concrete road, synthetic track and woodchip trail) at self-selected comfortable running speeds. Dynamic postural stability (tri-axial acceleration root mean square (RMS) ratio, step and stride regularity, sample entropy), dynamic loading (impact and breaking peak amplitudes and median frequencies), as well as spatio-temporal running gait measures (step frequency, stance time) were derived from trunk accelerations sampled at 1024Hz. Results from generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis showed that compared to concrete road, woodchip trail had several significant effects on dynamic stability (higher AP ratio of acceleration RMS, lower ML inter-step and inter-stride regularity), on dynamic loading (downward shift in vertical and AP median frequency), and reduced step frequency (p<0.05). Surface effects were unaffected when both running level and running speed were added as potential confounders. Results suggest that woodchip trails disrupt aspects of dynamic stability and loading that are detectable using a single trunk accelerometer. These results provide further insight into how runners adapt their locomotor biomechanics on outdoor surfaces in situ.
Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Movement Laboratory, Department of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa. Electronic address: kurtschutte.sa@gmail.com.
Kurt H
KH
Schütte
Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Jeroen
J
Aeles
Department of Computer Science, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Tim Op
TO
De Beéck
Movement Laboratory, Department of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.
Babette C
BC
van der Zwaard
Movement Laboratory, Department of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.
Rachel
R
Venter
Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Benedicte
B
Vanwanseele
D061725:Accelerometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D059015:Wireless Technology; D055815:Young Adult
Dynamic loading; Dynamic stability; Running gait; Running surface; Trunk accelerometer