SportsMedUpdate

GAIT-RELATED RISK FACTORS FOR EXERCISE-RELATED LOWER-LEG PAIN DURING SHOD RUNNING

Willems TM, Witvrouw E, De Cock A, et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007;39:330–9

Background:

Exercise-related lower-leg pain (ERLLP) is a common complaint in running athletes, and lower limb biomechanical variables (kinematic and kinetic) have been linked to these injuries; however evidence is lacking.

Research question/s:

Do lower limb kinematic (3D video analysis) or kinetic (plantar pressure measurements) variables predict the development of ERLLP in athletes during shod running?

Methodology:

Subjects: 400 physical education students (241 male, 17–28 yrs).

Experimental procedure: All the subjects were assessed prior to the onset of their academic study by 3D kinematic analysis and plantar pressure measurements during shod running. Subjects were then followed up and all sports injuries were documented. Forty-six subjects developed ERLLP (29 subjects bilateral), resulting in 75 symptomatic lower legs (35 left, 40 right) that were classified into an ERLLP group (n = 75). The control limbs (CON = 334) consisted of the 167 subjects who sustained no injuries in the lower extremities during follow-up.

Measures of outcome: Ankle and knee kinematics, plantar pressure.

Main finding/s:

Subjects in the ERLLP group had (1) a significantly increased pronation excursion, (2) more pressure underneath the medial side of the foot, (3) a delayed maximal eversion and (4) an accelerated re-inversion.

Conclusion/s:

• The development of exercise-related lower-leg pain is associated …