Risk Factors for Injuries in Runners: A Systematic Review of Foot Strike Technique and Its Classification at Impact (original) (raw)
Related papers
Determination of the foot strike pattern in runners belonging to a running team
International Sportmed Journal, 2014
Background: The number of runners has been increasing as well as the number of injuries related to this sport. Knowing the foot strike patterns of the runners has become necessary since there is a possible relationship between the landing pattern of the foot against the ground during running and the increased incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in runners. Research question: The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of the foot strike patterns in recreational runners during typical training running pace. Type of study: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted with recreational runners who practice with running coach. A high-speed camera (image acquisition frequency of 250 Hz) was used to analyse the foot strike pattern and photocells were used to register the runners´ speed. The foot strike patterns were classified into three categories: rearfoot, midfoot and forefoot. The description of the foot strike pattern and the characteristics of participants were done through descriptive statistics. Intra-class and inter-class confiability was evaluated by agreement percentage. Results: Fiftythree runners, with an average speed of 12.6 km/h, were evaluated, and 98.1% of the runners showed a rearfoot strike pattern. Only one runner touched the ground with the midfoot first, and none were forefoot strikers. The evaluation method for determining foot strike pattern showed an agreement percentage of 96.2% and 100% intra-class and inter-class confiability, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the adult recreational runners who train with a one running coach, almost exclusively demonstrate a rearfoot strike pattern during running.
The Open Sports Sciences Journal, 2017
Background: Long-distance running is a popular recreational exercise. It is a beneficial activity for health and wellness. However, the running can also cause injury, particularly in the lower extremities. There is no consensus in the literature on the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that cause these musculoskeletal injuries. In theory, most injuries are caused by methodological errors, the type of footwear and terrain. Objective: To identify the factors associated with injuries in recreational runners based on evidence. Method: The data sources used were: PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science. Compiled the English-language articles identified by keywords, titles of medical affairs and research of electronic databases above. With this research from the review process, controlled trials were grouped in a study population consisted of recreational runners. Results: Evidences suggest that injuries are common for runners. Many variables can contribute to the injury process, among th...
RESEARCH ARTICLE Variation in Foot Strike Patterns among Habitually Barefoot and Shod Runners in
2016
Runners are often categorized as forefoot, midfoot or rearfoot strikers, but how much and why do individuals vary in foot strike patterns when running on level terrain? This study used general linear mixed-effects models to explore both intra- and inter-individual varia-tions in foot strike pattern among 48 Kalenjin-speaking participants from Kenya who varied in age, sex, body mass, height, running history, and habitual use of footwear. High speed video was used to measure lower extremity kinematics at ground contact in the sagittal plane while participants ran down 13 meter-long tracks with three variables independently controlled: speed, track stiffness, and step frequency. 72 % of the habitually barefoot and 32 % of the habitually shod participants used multiple strike types, with significantly higher levels of foot strike variation among individuals who ran less frequently and who used lower step frequencies. There was no effect of sex, age, height or weight on foot strike angle...
Physical Activity and Health, 2021
Introduction: Running is an extremely popular pastime and competitive sport. There is a general consensus that runners present a high incidence of injury. This study aims to discover the prevalence of injury to the lower extremity among runners and any associated risk factors which correlate with the development of lower extremity injuries. Methods: An inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to screen search results. From an original 184 search results, 24 research papers were selected for the final study. The PRISMA checklist was adhered to in the research process. EndnoteX9 was used to filter through all search results and to achieve the final study selections, in line with the appropriate criteria. Results: Overall, a mean incidence of 37% was displayed for running related injuries to the lower extremity. Females displayed a greater mean incidence of injury than males, 39.7% vs 34.3%. Injury prevalence presented greatest at the knee region (24.3%), but this differed when results were split into male and females. Females presented the greatest prevalence of injury at the calf/lower leg, whilst males presented greatest incidence of injury at the hip/pelvis/upper leg region. Risk factors for developing injury which were identified throughout the research included; having <5 years running experience, being previously injured in the last 12 months and running >3 times per week. Conclusion: This systematic review is in agreement with the literature which has repeatedly illustrated that female runners present a greater incidence of injury than male runners.
Factors contributing to running injuries: a narrative review
2011
The purpose of this paper is to highlight some common extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors associated with running injuries that should be considered in the management and prevention of running injuries. Background: Running is one the most common sports activity that is practiced throughout the world. This increase in popularity in running could gradually increase the incidence rate of injury thus contributing to overuse injuries. Research in the field of running injuries is vast and has been conducted over more than 40 years. It is however difficult to distinguish the exact cause of running injuries as the aetiologies are multifactoral and diverse. There are various factors (extrinsic or intrinsic) that could be associated to running injuries. Extrinsic factors such as training methods, training surfaces or incorrect running shoes have been identified as some common risk factors. Some intrinsic factors such as muscle strength, flexibility and malalignment of the leg have also been identified which could further explain the aetiology of running injuries. Many researchers have identified various contributing factors to running injuries however there is a lack of conclusive evidence on the identified factors. Thus, the acquiring knowledge and scientific evidence about the risk factors related to common running injuries are important as it could assist in the treatment and prevention of long-term injuries. To reduce the high incidence rates of running injuries and to promote independence in injury management, a rehabilitation programme consisting of a training programme which gradually increases mileage, frequency, resting periods, appropriate running shoes for different foot types; heel lifts to adjust malalignments of the leg; flexibility and strengthening programmes of the lower limb and the selection of appropriate training surfaces and terrain is needed.
European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2013
Impact reduction has become a factor of interest in the prevention of running-related injuries such as stress fractures. Currently, the midfoot strike pattern (MFS) is thought as a potential way to decrease impact. The purpose was to test the effects of two long-term interventions aiming to reduce impact during running via a transition to an MFS: a foot strike retraining versus a lowdrop/low-heel height footwear. Thirty rearfoot strikers were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (SHOES and TRAIN). SHOES progressively wore lowdrop/low-heel height shoes and TRAIN progressively adopted an MFS, over a 3-month period with three 30-min running sessions per week. Measurement sessions (pretraining, 1, 2 and 3 months) were performed during which subjects were equipped with three accelerometers on the shin, heel and metatarsals, and ran for 15 min on an instrumented treadmill. Synchronized acceleration and vertical ground reaction force signals were recorded. Peak heel acceleration was significantly lower as compared to pre-training for SHOES (−33.5 ± 12.8 % at 2 months and −25.3 ± 18.8 % at 3 months, p \ 0.001), and so was shock propagation velocity (−12.1 ± 9.3 %, p \ 0.001 at 2 months and −11.3 ± 4.6 %, p \ 0.05 at 3 months). No change was observed for TRAIN. Important inter-individual variations were noted in both groups and reported pains were mainly located at the shin and calf. Although it induced reversible pains, low-drop/low-heel height footwear seemed to be more effective than foot strike retraining to attenuate heel impact in the long term.
Journal of athletic training, 2015
Context : The injury incidence rate among runners is approximately 50%. Some individuals have advocated using an anterior-foot-strike pattern to reduce ground reaction forces and injury rates that they attribute to a rear-foot-strike pattern. The proportion of minimalist shoe wearers who adopt an anterior-foot-strike pattern remains unclear. Objective : To evaluate the accuracy of self-reported foot-strike patterns, compare negative ankle- and knee-joint angular work among runners using different foot-strike patterns and wearing traditional or minimalist shoes, and describe average vertical-loading rates. Design : Descriptive laboratory study. Setting : Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants : A total of 60 healthy volunteers (37 men, 23 women; age = 34.9 ± 8.9 years, height = 1.74 ± 0.08 m, mass = 70.9 ± 13.4 kg) with more than 6 months of experience wearing traditional or minimalist shoes were instructed to classify their foot-strike patterns. Intervention(s) : ...