Abstract
Kinematics data are primary biomechanical parameters. A principal component analysis (PCA) of waveforms is a statistical approach used to explore patterns of variability in biomechanical curve datasets. Differences in experienced and recreational runners’ kinematic variables are still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to compare any differences in kinematics parameters for competitive runners and recreational runners using principal component analysis in the sagittal plane, frontal plane and transverse plane. Forty male runners were divided into two groups: twenty competitive runners and twenty recreational runners. A Vicon Motion System (Vicon Metrics Ltd., Oxford, UK) captured three-dimensional kinematics data during running at 3.3 m/s. The principal component analysis was used to determine the dominating variation in this model. Then, the principal component scores retained the first three principal components and were analyzed using independent t-tests. The recreational runners were found to have a smaller dorsiflexion angle, initial dorsiflexion contact angle, ankle inversion, knee adduction, range motion in the frontal knee plane and hip frontal plane. The running kinematics data were influenced by running experience. The findings from the study provide a better understanding of the kinematics variables for competitive and recreational runners. Thus, these findings might have implications for reducing running injury and improving running performance.
Highlights
Long-distance running is a convenient sport that is popular with numerous runners globally [1,2]
The results indicated that the forward trunk lean and hip abduction significantly increased during the running stance phase in recreational compared to competitive runners [9]
One difference was found between competitive runners the plane, t hip sagittal plane (Table the Figure 8).and
Summary
Long-distance running is a convenient sport that is popular with numerous runners globally [1,2]. With the increased number of runners, over-use running injuries have increased. The running injuries risk has increased to as high as 79% yearly [3,4]. It appears that recreational runners have a higher risk of lower limb running injuries than competitive runners [5]. Most of the running studies for different runners have analyzed direct static parameters, such as kinematics [6,7,8], running fatigue [9], plantar pressure [10] and the kinetics of gait running [11]. The running mechanisms involved in competitive running and recreational running are still unclear. Biomechanical research should consider investigating any differences in running experience and effects on performance
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