Abstract
BackgroundHigher peak external knee flexion moments (KFM) during running has been observed in healthy people wearing athletic footwear compared to barefoot, which may increase risk of knee pathologies such as patellofemoral pain. Currently, no studies have examined whether stability and neutral style athletic shoes influence the peak KFM differently, or explored the underlying biomechanical mechanisms by which footwear alters peak KFM in young females.MethodsLower limb biomechanics of sixty girls aged between 10 and 25 years old were collected while running in footwear (both stability and neutral) and barefoot. The external peak KFM, sagittal plane kinematics, sagittal plane knee ground reaction force (GRF) lever arm and sagittal plane resultant GRF magnitude were analysed by repeated measures Analysis of Variance. Linear mixed models were fit to identify predictors of a change in peak KFM, and to determine if the effects of these predictors differed between footwear conditions.ResultsThe peak KFM was higher wearing both shoe styles compared to barefoot (p < 0.001), while no between-shoe differences were found (p > 0.05). Both shoes also increased kinematic variables at the hip, knee, and ankle (p < 0.05). When all these variables were entered into the mixed model, only a change in the knee-GRF lever arm was predictive of a change in peak KFM wearing shoes compared to barefoot (p < 0.001).ConclusionThese findings provide evidence that stability and neutral shoes increase peak KFM compared to barefoot, which is associated with a change in the knee-GRF lever arm rather than a change in lower limb kinematics. Future studies may consider manipulating footwear characteristics to reduce the knee-GRF lever arm in an effort to reduce peak KFM and the potential risk of patellofemoral pain.
Highlights
Running is a popular exercise associated with a healthy lifestyle
The stability (MD = 0.42, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.36 to 0.49 Nm/kg, p < 0.001) and neutral (MD = 0.38, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.45 Nm/kg, p < 0.001) shoes resulted in a higher peak knee flexion moments (KFM) during running compared to barefoot
This study found evidence that running in commercially available stability and neutral shoes increased the peak KFM compared to barefoot in adolescent girls and young women
Summary
The causes of PFP amongst adolescent females are multifactorial [5,6,7], altered sagittal plane knee biomechanics such as a higher peak knee flexion moment (KFM) may be a contributor [8, 9]. Higher peak KFM is associated with higher patellofemoral joint loads which, in turn, can increase risk of developing PFP [8, 9]. Given that the girls in the aforementioned study are at higher risk of developing knee pathologies such as PFP [3, 14,15,16], further studies should consider the biomechanical mechanisms contributing to higher peak KFM in this cohort. Higher peak external knee flexion moments (KFM) during running has been observed in healthy people wearing athletic footwear compared to barefoot, which may increase risk of knee pathologies such as patellofemoral pain. No studies have examined whether stability and neutral style athletic shoes influence the peak KFM differently, or explored the underlying biomechanical mechanisms by which footwear alters peak KFM in young females
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
