Forefoot Strikers Exhibit Lower Running-Induced Knee Loading than Rearfoot Strikers.

• Autores: Kati Pasanen, Jari Parkkari, Juha-Pekka Kulmala, Janne Avela
• Localización: Medicine & Science in Sports & exercise: Official Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, ISSN 0195-9131, Vol. 45, Nº. 12, 2013, págs. 2306-2313
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • AB Purpose: Knee pain and Achilles tendinopathies are the most common complaints among runners. The differences in the running mechanics may play an important role in the pathogenesis of lower limb overuse injuries. However, the effect of a runner's foot strike pattern on the ankle and especially on the knee loading is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine whether runners using a forefoot strike pattern exhibit a different lower limb loading profile than runners who use rearfoot strike pattern. Methods: Nineteen female athletes with a natural forefoot strike (FFS) pattern and pair-matched women with rearfoot strike (RFS) pattern (n = 19) underwent 3-D running analysis at 4 m[middle dot]s-1. Joint angles and moments, patellofemoral contact force and stresses, and Achilles tendon forces were analyzed and compared between groups. Results: FFS demonstrated lower patellofemoral contact force and stress compared with heel strikers (4.3 +/- 1.2 vs 5.1 +/- 1.1 body weight, P = 0.029, and 11.1 +/- 2.9 vs 13.0 +/- 2.8 MPa, P = 0.04). In addition, knee frontal plane moment was lower in the FFS compared with heel strikers (1.49 +/- 0.51 vs 1.97 +/- 0.66 N[middle dot]m[middle dot]kg-1, P =0.015). At the ankle level, FFS showed higher plantarflexor moment (3.12 +/- 0.40 vs 2.54 +/- 0.37 N[middle dot]m[middle dot]kg-1; P = 0.001) and Achilles tendon force (6.3 +/- 0.8 vs 5.1 +/- 1.3 body weight; P = 0.002) compared with RFS. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study that shows differences in patellofemoral loading and knee frontal plane moment between FFS and RFS. FFS exhibit both lower patellofemoral stress and knee frontal plane moment than RFS, which may reduce the risk of running-related knee injuries. On the other hand, parallel increase in ankle plantarflexor and Achilles tendon loading may increase risk for ankle and foot injuries