The habitual motion path theory: Evidence from cartilage volume reductions in the knee joint after 75\u2009minutes of running

Steffen Willwacher,Grischa Bratke,Joseph Hamill,Daniela Mählich,Gillian Weir,Matthieu B Trudeau,Gert-Peter Brüggemann

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-58352-5

Steffen Willwacher, Grischa Bratke + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58352-5

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Abstract

The habitual motion path theory predicts that humans tend to maintain their habitual motion path (HMP) during locomotion. The HMP is the path of least resistance of the joints defined by an individual’s musculoskeletal anatomy and passive tissue properties. Here we tested whether participants with higher HMP deviation and whether using footwear that increases HMP deviation during running show higher reductions of knee joint articular cartilage volume after 75 minutes of running. We quantified knee joint articular cartilage volumes before and after the run using a 3.0-Tesla MRI. We performed a 3D movement analysis of runners in order to quantify their HMP from a two-legged squat motion and the deviation from the HMP when running in different footwear conditions. We found significantly more cartilage volume reductions in the medial knee compartment and patella for participants with higher HMP deviation. We also found higher cartilage volume reductions on the medial tibia when runners wore a shoe that maximized their HMP deviation compared with the shoe that minmized their HMP deviation. Runners might benefit from reducing their HMP deviation and from selecting footwear by quantifying HMP deviation in order to minimize joint cartilage loading in sub-areas of the knee.

Highlights

The habitual motion path theory predicts that humans tend to maintain their habitual motion path (HMP) during locomotion
Were characterized by greater cartilage volume losses in the medial tibial compartment (MT) (p = 0.047), MF (p = 0.033) and P (0.033) sub-areas of the knee joint cartilage compared to runners with lower HMP deviation values (n = 6, average over www.nature.com/scientificreports all footwear conditions: 6.2 ± 2.3°)(Fig. 2B,C)
We identified a significant relationship between overall HMP deviation and the amplitude of MT (R2 = 0.43; p = 0.031) and MF (R2 = 0.35; p = 0.045) sub area cartilage volume reductions

Summary

Introduction

The habitual motion path theory predicts that humans tend to maintain their habitual motion path (HMP) during locomotion. Runners might benefit from reducing their HMP deviation and from selecting footwear by quantifying HMP deviation in order to minimize joint cartilage loading in sub-areas of the knee. Nigg et al have proposed that the neural control of running is tuned towards minimizing mechanical stress of biological tissues, resulting in an optimal path of lower extremity joint movement for each individual and every specific movement[3]. Based on the HMP theory, deviating from the HMP leads to loading of less adapted structures of lower extremity joints, resulting in a greater risk of sustaining a running-related overuse injury. Both of these consequences would result in greater loading of joint structures. Knee joint cartilage morphology has been related to biomechanical loading characteristics of the knee during locomotion[15]

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