The effect of three surface conditions, speed and running experience on vertical acceleration of the tibia during running.
Research has focused on parameters that are associated with injury risk, e.g. vertical acceleration. These parameters can be influenced by running on different surfaces or at different running speeds, but the relationship between them is not completely clear. Understanding the relationship may result in training guidelines to reduce the injury risk. In this study, thirty-five participants with three different levels of running experience were recruited. Participants ran on three different surfaces (concrete, synthetic running track, and woodchip trail) at two different running speeds: a self-selected comfortable speed and a fixed speed of 3.06 m/s. Vertical acceleration of the lower leg was measured with an accelerometer. The vertical acceleration was significantly lower during running on the woodchip trail in comparison with the synthetic running track and the concrete, and significantly lower during running at lower speed in comparison with during running at higher speed on all surfaces. No significant differences in vertical acceleration were found between the three groups of runners at fixed speed. Higher self-selected speed due to higher performance level also did not result in higher vertical acceleration. These results may show that running on a woodchip trail and slowing down could reduce the injury risk at the tibia.
a Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physiotherapy, Department of Kinesiology , KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.|b Biomechanics Section, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering , KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.
Hannelore
H
Boey
a Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physiotherapy, Department of Kinesiology , KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.
Jeroen
J
Aeles
a Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physiotherapy, Department of Kinesiology , KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.|c Department of Sport Science , Stellenbosch University , Matieland , South Africa.
Kurt
K
Schütte
a Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physiotherapy, Department of Kinesiology , KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.|d Health Innovation and Technology Chair , Fontys University of Applied Sciences , Eindhoven , The Netherlands.
Benedicte
B
Vanwanseele
D000054:Acceleration; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*; D013977:Tibia / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Self-selected running speed; outdoor running; shod running; surface resilience