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Footwear plays a critical role in our daily lives, affecting our performance, health and overall well-being. Well-designed footwear can provide protection, comfort and improved foot functionality, while poorly designed footwear can lead to mobility problems and declines in physical activity. The overall goal of footwear research is to provide a scientific basis for professionals in the field to provide an optimal footwear solution for a given person, for a given task, in a given environment, while using sustainable manufacturing processes. This article suggests potential directions for future research with a focus on athletic footwear biomechanics. Directions include the evidence-based individualisation of footwear, the interaction between design and prolonged use, and improving the sustainability of footwear. The authors also provide a speculative outlook on methodological developments that may provide greater insight into these areas. These developments may include: (1) the use of larger scale, real-world and representative data, (2) the use of 3D printing to create experimental footwear, (3) the advancement of in silico research methods, and (4) furthering multidisciplinary collaboration. If successfully applied in the future, footwear research will contribute to active and healthy lifestyles across the lifespan.
Bewegungsanalysesysteme in der Forschung und für niedergelassene Orthopädinnen und Orthopäden
(2023)
Hintergrund
Komplexe biomechanische Bewegungsanalysen können für eine Vielzahl orthopädischer Fragestellungen wichtige Informationen liefern. Bei der Beschaffung von Bewegungsanalysesystemen sind neben den klassischen Messgütekriterien (Validität, Reliabilität, Objektivität) auch räumliche und zeitliche Rahmenbedingungen sowie Anforderungen an die Qualifikation des Messpersonals zu berücksichtigen.
Anwendung
In der komplexen Bewegungsanalyse werden Systeme zur Bestimmung der Kinematik, der Kinetik und der Muskelaktivität (Elektromyographie) eingesetzt. Der vorliegende Artikel gibt einen Überblick über Methoden der komplexen biomechanischen Bewegungsanalyse für den Einsatz in der orthopädischen Forschung oder in der individuellen Patientenversorgung. Neben dem Einsatz zur reinen Bewegungsanalyse wird auch der Einsatz von Bewegungsanalyseverfahren im Bereich des Biofeedbacktrainings diskutiert.
Beschaffung
Für die konkrete Anschaffung von Bewegungsanalysesystemen empfiehlt sich die Kontaktaufnahme mit Fachgesellschaften (z. B. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Biomechanik), Hochschulen und Universitäten mit vorhandenen Bewegungsanalyseeinrichtungen oder Vertriebsfirmen im Bereich der Biomechanik.
High-tech running shoes and spikes ("super-footwear") are currently being debated in sports. There is direct evidence that distance running super shoes improve running economy; however, it is not well established to which extent world-class performances are affected over the range of track and road running events.
This study examined publicly available performance datasets of annual best track and road performances for evidence of potential systematic performance effects following the introduction of super footwear. The analysis was based on the 100 best performances per year for men and women in outdoor events from 2010 to 2022, provided by the world governing body of athletics (World Athletics).
We found evidence of progressing improvements in track and road running performances after the introduction of super distance running shoes in 2016 and super spike technology in 2019. This evidence is more pronounced for distances longer than 1500 m in women and longer than 5000 m in men. Women seem to benefit more from super footwear in distance running events than men.
While the observational study design limits causal inference, this study provides a database on potential systematic performance effects following the introduction of super shoes/spikes in track and road running events in world-class athletes. Further research is needed to examine the underlying mechanisms and, in particular, potential sex differences in the performance effects of super footwear.
Objective: To identify and evaluate the evidence of the most relevant running-related risk factors (RRRFs) for running-related overuse injuries (ROIs) and to suggest future research directions.
Design: Systematic review considering prospective and retrospective studies. (PROSPERO_ID: 236832)
Data sources: Pubmed. Connected Papers. The search was performed in February 2021.
Eligibility criteria: English language. Studies on participants whose primary sport is running addressing the risk for the seven most common ROIs and at least one kinematic, kinetic (including pressure measurements), or electromyographic RRRF. An RRRF needed to be identified in at least one prospective or two retrospective studies.
Results: Sixty-two articles fulfilled our eligibility criteria. Levels of evidence for specific ROIs ranged from conflicting to moderate evidence. Running populations and methods applied varied considerably between studies. While some RRRFs appeared for several ROIs, most RRRFs were specific for a particular ROI. The biomechanical measurements performed in many studies would have allowed for consideration of many more RRRFs than have been reported, highlighting a potential for more effective data usage in the future.
Conclusion: This study offers a comprehensive overview of RRRFs for the most common ROIs, which might serve as a starting point to develop ROI-specific risk profiles of individual runners. Future work should use macroscopic (big data) approaches involving long-term data collections in the real world and microscopic approaches involving precise stress calculations using recent developments in biomechanical modelling. However, consensus on data collection standards (including the quantification of workload and stress tolerance variables and the reporting of injuries) is warranted.
The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of running speed and slope on metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint kinematics. 22 male and female runners underwent 3D motion analysis on an instrumented treadmill at three different speeds (2.5 m/s, 3.0 m/s, 3.5 m/s). At each speed, participants ran at seven slope conditions (downhill: -15%, -10%, -5%, level, and uphill: +5%, +10%, +15%). We found a significant main effect (p < 0.001) of running speed and slope on peak MTP dorsiflexion and a running speed by slope interaction effect (p < 0.001) for peak MTP dorsiflexion velocity. These findings highlight the need to consider running intensity and environmental factors like running surface inclination when considering MTP joint mechanics and technological aids to support runners.
The compliant nature of distal limb muscle-tendon units is traditionally considered suboptimal in explosive movements when positive joint work is required. However, during accelerative running, ankle joint net mechanical work is positive. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how plantar flexor muscle-tendon behavior is modulated during fast accelerations. Eleven female sprinters performed maximum sprint accelerations from starting blocks, while gastrocnemius muscle fascicle lengths were estimated using ultrasonography. We combined motion analysis and ground reaction force measurements to assess lower limb joint kinematics and kinetics, and to estimate gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit length during the first two acceleration steps. Outcome variables were resampled to the stance phase and averaged across three to five trials. Relevant scalars were extracted and analyzed using one-sample and two-sample t-tests, and vector trajectories were compared using statistical parametric mapping. We found that an uncoupling of muscle fascicle behavior from muscle-tendon unit behavior is effectively used to produce net positive mechanical work at the joint during maximum sprint acceleration. Muscle fascicles shortened throughout the first and second steps, while shortening occurred earlier during the first step, where negative joint work was lower compared with the second step. Elastic strain energy may be stored during dorsiflexion after touchdown since fascicles did not lengthen at the same time to dissipate energy. Thus, net positive work generation is accommodated by the reuse of elastic strain energy along with positive gastrocnemius fascicle work. Our results show a mechanism of how muscles with high in-series compliance can contribute to net positive joint work.
Research is often conducted to investigate footwear mechanical properties and their effects on running biomechanics, but little is known about their influence on runner satisfaction, or how well the shoe is perceived. A tool to predict runner satisfaction in a shoe from its mechanical properties would be advantageous for footwear companies. Data in this study were from a database (n = 615 subject-shoe pairings) of satisfaction ratings (gathered after participants ran on a treadmill), and mechanical testing data for 87 unique subjects across 61 unique shoes. Random forest and elastic net logistic regression models were built to test if footwear mechanical properties and subject characteristics could predict runner satisfaction in 3 ways: degree-of-satisfaction on a 7-point Likert scale, overall satisfaction on a 3-point Likert scale, and willingness-to-purchase the shoe (yes/no response). Data were divided into training and validation sets, using an 80–20 split, to build the models and test their accuracy, respectively. Model accuracies were compared against the no-information rate (i.e. proportion of data belonging to the largest class). The models were not able to predict degree-of-satisfaction or overall satisfaction from footwear mechanical properties but could predict runner’s willingness to purchase with 68–75% accuracy. Midsole Gmax at the heel and forefoot appeared in the top five of variable importance rankings across both willingness-to-purchase models, suggesting its role as a major factor in purchase decisions. The negative regression coefficient for both heel and forefoot Gmax indicated that softer midsoles increase the likelihood of a shoe purchase. Future models to predict satisfaction may improve accuracy with the addition of more subject-specific parameters, such as running goals or foot proportions.
Effect of downhill running on biomechanical risk factors associated with iliotibial band syndrome
(2022)
The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of downhill running on biomechanical risk factors for iliotibial band syndrome. We conducted a 3D motion analysis of 22 females and males running on an instrumented treadmill at four different inclinations (0%, -5%, -10%, -15%) at a speed of 3.5 m/s. We found significant differences for biomechanical risk factors associated with iliotibial band syndrome. Peak knee flexion angle at initial ground contact (p < .001), peak knee adduction angle (p = .005), and iliotibial band strain (p < .001) systematically increased with increasing slope. Downhill running increases biomechanical risk factors for iliotibial band syndrome. Our results highlight the need to consider the individual running environment in assessing overuse injury risk in runners.
Background
Internal tibial loading is influenced by modifiable factors with implications for the risk of stress injury. Runners encounter varied surface steepness (gradients) when running outdoors and may adapt their speed according to the gradient. This study aimed to quantify tibial bending moments and stress at the anterior and posterior peripheries when running at different speeds on surfaces of different gradients.
Methods
Twenty recreational runners ran on a treadmill at 3 different speeds (2.5 m/s, 3.0 m/s, and 3.5 m/s) and gradients (level: 0%; uphill: +5%, +10%, and +15%; downhill: –5%, –10%, and –15%). Force and marker data were collected synchronously throughout. Bending moments were estimated at the distal third centroid of the tibia about the medial–lateral axis by ensuring static equilibrium at each 1% of stance. Stress was derived from bending moments at the anterior and posterior peripheries by modeling the tibia as a hollow ellipse. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance were conducted using both functional and discrete statistical analyses.
Results
There were significant main effects for running speed and gradient on peak bending moments and peak anterior and posterior stress. Higher running speeds resulted in greater tibial loading. Running uphill at +10% and +15% resulted in greater tibial loading than level running. Running downhill at –10% and –15% resulted in reduced tibial loading compared to level running. There was no difference between +5% or –5% and level running.
Conclusion
Running at faster speeds and uphill on gradients ≥+10% increased internal tibial loading, whereas slower running and downhill running on gradients ≥–10% reduced internal loading. Adapting running speed according to the gradient could be a protective mechanism, providing runners with a strategy to minimize the risk of tibial stress injuries.
Uphill training is applied to induce specific overload on the musculoskeletal system to improve sprinting mechanics. This study aimed to identify unique kinematic features of uphill sprinting at different slopes and to suggest practical implications based on comparisons we early stance phase. At take-off, steeper slopes induced significantly more extended joint angles and higher ROMs during the late stance phase. Compared with moderate slopes, more anti-phase coordination patterns were detected at steeper slopes. Thus, uphill sprinting at steeper slopes shares essential kinematic features with the early acceleration phase of level sprinting. Moderate inclinations induce biomechanical adaptations similar to those in the late acceleration phase of level sprinting. Hence, the specific transfer of uphill sprinting to acceleration depends on the slope inclinations.
Quantifying the midsole material characteristics of athletic footwear is a standard task in footwear research and development. Current material testing protocols primarily focus on the determination of cushioning properties of the heel region or the quantification of the midsole properties as one assembly. However, midsoles possess different spatial material properties that have not been quantified from previous methodologies. Therefore, new material testing methods are required to quantify the local material response of athletic footwear. We developed a cyclical force-controlled material testing protocol for the determination of non-homogeneously distributed material stiffness with a high spatial resolution. In five prototype shoes varying in their stiffness distribution, we found that the material properties can be reliably measured across the midsole. Furthermore, we observed a characteristic non-linear material response regardless of the midsole location. We found that the material stiffness increased with an increase of the applied force and that this effect is further intensified by higher testing cycles. Additionally, the obtained midsole stiffness depends on the geometry of the midsole. We explored different approaches to reduce the measurement time of the testing protocol and found that the number of measurements can be reduced by 70% using 2 D-interpolation procedures. Determining the spatial material properties of midsoles needs to be considered to understand foot-shoe interactions. Furthermore, this measurement protocol can be used for quality control within the footwear and can be adapted for considering the effects of different running styles or speeds on ground force application characteristics.