A prospective study on gait-related intrinsic risk factors for lower leg overuse injuries
- 1Faculty of medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- 2Faculty of Literature and Human Science, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Urmia University, Iran
- 3Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy Ghent, Ghent University, University Artevelde College, Ghent, Belgium
- 4Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Correspondence to Dr N Ghani Zadeh Hesar, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 3B3 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Narmin.Ghanizadehhesar{at}ugent.be
- Accepted 6 February 2009
- Published Online First 18 February 2009
Abstract
Objective: To determine prospectively gait-related risk factors for lower leg overuse injury (LLOI).
Design: A prospective cohort study.
Setting: Male and female recruits from a start-to-run (STR) programme during a 10-week training period.
Participants: 131 healthy subjects (20 men and 111 women), without a history of any lower leg complaint, participated in the study.
Interventions: Before the start of the 10-week STR programme, plantar force measurements during running were performed. During STR, lower leg injuries were diagnosed and registered by a sports physician.
Main Outcome Measures: Plantar force measurements during running were performed using a footscan pressure plate.
Results: During the STR, 27 subjects (five men and 22 women) developed a LLOI. Logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects who developed a LLOI had a significantly more laterally directed force distribution at first metatarsal contact and forefoot flat, a more laterally directed force displacement in the forefoot contact phase, foot flat phase and at heel-off. These subjects also had a delayed change of the centre of force (COF) at forefoot flat, a higher force and loading underneath the lateral border of the foot, and a significantly higher directed force displacement of the COF at forefoot flat.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that a less pronated heel strike and a more laterally directed roll-off can be considered as risk factors for LLOI. Clinically, the results of this study can be considered important in identifying individuals at risk of LLOI.
Footnotes
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Competing interests None.
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Ethics approval The study was approved by the ethical committee of the Ghent university hospital.
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Patient consent Obtained.
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Provenance and Peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
