Comparison of 3 Methods for Computing Loading Rate during Running.

Tibial stress fractures are among the most common and potentially serious overuse injuries in runners. The fractures are thought to be related in part, to excessive loading variables, such as vertical average loading rate (VALR) and vertical instantaneous loading rate (VILR). Although there are several methods for calculating loading rate in running, little is known about the differences between the results produced by these methods. The purpose of this study was to compare 3 previously published methods of calculating VALR and VILR during running. 9 male participants ran on a treadmill at 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 m/s. VALR and VILR were calculated from vertical ground reaction force using 3 methods that differed by the period over which the loading rates were calculated; foot strike to first peak (method A), from 20 to 80% of the time to first peak (method B), and over the first 50 ms after foot strike (method C). There were significant differences among methods with regard to VALR, but not VILR. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that VILR is preferable to VALR for consistent evaluation among methods, which make it more acceptable to make study comparisons.

Step Frequency and Step Length of 200-m Sprint in Able-bodied and Amputee Sprinters.

The goal of this study was to examine the hypothesis that the difference in the 200-m sprint performance of amputee and able-bodied sprinters is due to a shorter step length rather than a lower step frequency. Men's elite-level 200-m races with a total of 16 able-bodied, 13 unilateral transtibial, 5 bilateral transtibial, and 16 unilateral transfemoral amputee sprinters were analyzed from publicly available internet broadcasts. For each run, the average forward velocity, step frequency, and step length over the entire 200-m distance were analyzed for each sprinter. The average forward velocity of able-bodied sprinters was faster than that of the other 3 groups, but there was no significant difference in average step frequency between able-bodied and transtibial amputee sprinters. However, the average step length of able-bodied sprinters was significantly longer than that of the transtibial amputee sprinters. In contrast, the step frequency and step length of transfemoral amputees were significantly lower and shorter than those of the other 3 groups. These results suggest that the differences in 200-m sprint performance between able-bodied and amputee sprinters are dependent on amputation level.

Spatiotemporal Variables of Able-bodied and Amputee Sprinters in Men's 100-m Sprint.

The difference in world records set by able-bodied sprinters and amputee sprinters in the men's 100-m sprint is still approximately 1 s (as of 28 March 2014). Theoretically, forward velocity in a 100-m sprint is the product of step frequency and step length. The goal of this study was to examine the hypothesis that differences in the sprint performance of able-bodied and amputee sprinters would be due to a shorter step length rather than lower step frequency. Men's elite-level 100-m races with a total of 36 able-bodied, 25 unilateral and 17 bilateral amputee sprinters were analyzed from the publicly available internet broadcasts of 11 races. For each run of each sprinter, the average forward velocity, step frequency and step length over the whole 100-m distance were analyzed. The average forward velocity of able-bodied sprinters was faster than that of the other 2 groups, but there was no significant difference in average step frequency among the 3 groups. However, the average step length of able-bodied sprinters was significantly longer than that of the other 2 groups. These results suggest that the differences in sprint performance between 2 groups would be due to a shorter step length rather than lower step frequency.

Step frequency and lower extremity loading during running.

The purpose of the present study was to ascertain whether increase in step frequency at a given velocity during running reduces the lower extremity loading variables, which is associated with tibial stress fracture in runner. We hypothesized that the lower extremity loading variables at a given speed would be minimized at around +15% f step. 10 male subjects were asked to run at 2.5 m/s on a treadmill-mounted force platform. 5 step frequencies were controlled using a metronome: the preferred, below preferred (-15 and -30%) and above preferred (+15 and +30%). From the vertical ground reaction force, we measured following lower extremity loading variables; vertical impact peak (VIP), vertical instantaneous loading rate (VILR) and vertical average loading rate (VALR). We found that there were significant differences in lower extremity loading variables among 5 step frequency conditions. Furthermore, quadratic regression analyses revealed that the minimum loading variable frequencies were 17.25, 17.55, and 18.07% of preferred step frequency for VIP, VILR and VIAR, respectively. Thus, adopting a step frequency greater than one's preferred may be practical in reducing the risk of developing a tibial stress fracture by decreasing lower extremity loading variables.