Peak muscle activation, joint kinematics, and kinetics during elliptical and stepping movement pattern on a Precor Adaptive Motion Trainer.

Kinematic, kinetic, and electromyography data were collected from the biceps femoris, rectus femoris (RF), gluteus maximus, and erector spinae (ES) during a step and elliptical exercise at a standardized workload with no hand use. Findings depicted 95% greater ankle plantar flexion (p = .01), 29% more knee extension (p = .003), 101% higher peak knee flexor moments (p < .001) 54% greater hip extensor moments (p < .001), 268% greater anterior joint reaction force (p = .009), 37% more RF activation (p < .001), and 200 % more ES activation (p <. 001) for the elliptical motion. Sixteen percent more hip flexion (p < .001), 42% higher knee extensor moments (p < .001), and 54% greater hip flexor moments (p = .041) occurred during the step motion. Biomechanical differences between motions should be considered when planning an exercise regimen.

Patellofemoral joint stress during running in females with and without patellofemoral pain.

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common complaint among female runners. The etiology for PFP is frequently associated with increased patellofemoral joint stress (PFJS) and altered hip and knee joint kinematics during running. However, whether PFJS during running is increased among runners with PFP is unknown. The primary aim of this study was to compare PFJS during running among females with and without PFP. We also compared hip and knee transverse plane kinematics during running due to their potential influence on patellofemoral contact area and PFJS. Three dimensional hip and knee running kinematics and kinetics were obtained from 20 females with PFP and 20 females with no pain. Patellofemoral joint stress during running was estimated using patellofemoral contact area and a sagittal plane patellofemoral joint model previously described. Patellofemoral joint stress, PFJS-time integral, and hip and knee transverse plane kinematics at the time of impact peak and peak ground reaction force were compared between groups using a multivariate analysis of variance. The results show that peak PFJS and PFJS-time integral were similar between groups. Peak knee flexion angle and net knee extension moment were not different between groups. However, females with PFP demonstrated hip internal rotation that was 6° greater (P=0.04) when ground reaction forces were greatest. The extent these results are influenced by compensations for pain is unclear. However, if increased PFJS contributes to the etiology or exacerbation of PFP, interventions to minimize altered transverse plane hip kinematics may be indicated among runners who demonstrate this characteristic.