Int J Sports Med 2012; 33(04): 310-313
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1291232
Orthopedics & Biomechanics
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Step Frequency and Lower Extremity Loading During Running

H. Hobara
1   Research Institute, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Department of Rehabilitation for the ­Movement Functions, Tokorozawa, Japan
,
T. Sato
2   Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
,
M. Sakaguchi
2   Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
,
T. Sato
3   Faculty of Human Life Sciences, Jissen Women’s University, Hino, Japan
,
K. Nakazawa
4   Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 14 September 2011

Publication Date:
01 March 2012 (online)

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to ascertain whether increase in step frequency at a given velocity during running reduces the lower extremity loading variables, which is associated with tibial stress fracture in runner. We hypothesized that the lower extremity loading variables at a given speed would be minimized at around  + 15% f step. 10 male subjects were asked to run at 2.5 m/s on a treadmill-mounted force platform. 5 step frequencies were controlled using a metronome: the preferred, below preferred ( − 15 and  − 30%) and above preferred ( + 15 and  + 30%). From the vertical ground reaction force, we measured following lower extremity loading variables; vertical impact peak (VIP), vertical instantaneous loading rate (VILR) and vertical average loading rate (VALR). We found that there were significant differences in lower extremity loading variables among 5 step frequency conditions. Furthermore, quadratic regression analyses revealed that the minimum loading variable frequencies were 17.25, 17.55, and 18.07% of preferred step frequency for VIP, VILR and VIAR, respectively. Thus, adopting a step frequency greater than one’s preferred may be practical in reducing the risk of developing a tibial stress fracture by decreasing lower extremity loading variables.

 
  • References

  • 1 Crowell HP, Davis IS. Gait retraining to reduce lower extremity loading in runners. Clin Biomech 2011; 26: 78-83
  • 2 Crowell HP, Milner CE, Hamill J, Davis IS. Reducing impact loading during running with the use of real-time visual feedback. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2010; 40: 206-213
  • 3 Davis I, Milner CE, Hamill J. Does increased loading during running lead to tibial stress fractures? A prospective study. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2004; 36: S58
  • 4 Derrick TR. The effects of knee contact angle on impact forces and accelerations. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2004; 36: 832-837
  • 5 Derrick TR, Hamill J, Caldwell G. Energy absorption of impacts during running at various stride lengths. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998; 30: 128-135
  • 6 Edwards WB, Taylor D, Rudolphi TJ, Gillette JC, Derrick TR. Effects of stride length and running mileage on a probabilistic stress fracture model. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 2177-2184
  • 7 Elliott BC, Blanksby BA. A cinematographic analysis of overground and treadmill running by males and females. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1976; 8: 84-87
  • 8 Ferber R, McClay-Davis I, Hamill J, Pollard CD, McKeown KA. Kinetic variables in subjects with previous lower extremity stress fracture. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34: S5
  • 9 Frishberg BA. An analysis of overground and treadmill sprinting. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1983; 15: 478-485
  • 10 Hamill J, Derrick TR, Holt KG. Shock attenuation and stride frequency during running. Hum Mov Sci 1995; 14: 45-60
  • 11 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Update – Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 819-821
  • 12 Heiderscheit B, Chumanov ES, Michalski MP, Wille CM, Ryan MB. Effects of step rate manipulation on joint mechanics during running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011; 43: 296-302
  • 13 Jones BH, Thacker SB, Gilchrist J, Kimsey Jr III CD, Sosin DM. Prevention of lower extremity stress fractures in athletes and soldiers: A systematic review. Epid Rev 2002; 24: 228-247
  • 14 Laughton CA, Davis IM, Hamill J. Effect of strike pattern and orthotic intervention on tibial shock during running. J Appl Biomech 2003; 19: 153-168
  • 15 Lieberman DE, Venkadesan M, Werbel WA, Daoud AI, D'Andrea S, Davis IS, Mangeni RO, Pitsiladis Y. Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners. Nature 2010; 463: 531-535
  • 16 Milgrom C, Radeva-Petrova DR, Finestone A, Nyska M, Mendelson S, Benjuya N, Simkin A, Burr D. The effect of muscle fatigue on in vivo tibial strains. J Biomech 2007; 40: 845-850
  • 17 Milner CE, Ferber R, Pollard CD, Hamill J, Davis IS. Biomechanical factors associated with tibial stress fracture in female runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006; 38: 323-328
  • 18 Milner CE, Hamill J, Davis IS. Are knee mechanics during early stance related to tibial stress fracture in runners?. Clin Biomech 2007; 22: 697-703
  • 19 Nelson RC, Dillman CJ, Lagasse P, Bickett P. Biomechanics of overground versus treadmill running. Med Sci Sports 1972; 4: 233-240
  • 20 Nigg BM, De Boer RW, Fisher V. A kinematic comparison of overground and treadmill running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1995; 27: 98-105
  • 21 Riley PO, Dicharry J, Franz J, Croce UD, Wilder RP, Kerrigan DC. A kinematics and kinetic comparison of overground and treadmill running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008; 40: 1093-1100
  • 22 Pohl MB, Mullineaux DR, Milner CE, Hamill J, Davis IS. Biomechanical predictors of retrospective tibial stress fractures in runners. J Biomech 2008; 41: 1160-1165
  • 23 Schache AG, Blanch PD, Rath DA, Wrigley TV, Starr R, Bennell KL. A comparison of overground and treadmill running for measuring the three-dimensional kinematics of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex. Clin Biomech 2001; 16: 667-680
  • 24 van Ingen Schenau GJ. Some fundamental aspects of the biomechanics of overground versus treadmill locomotion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1980; 12: 257-261
  • 25 Williams KR. Biomechanics of running. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 1985; 13: 389-441
  • 26 Zadpoor AA, Nikooyan AA. The relationship between lower-extremity stress fractures and the ground reaction force: A systematic review. Clin Biomech 2011; 26: 21-28
  • 27 Zifchock RA, Davis I, Hamill J. Kinetic asymmetry in female runners with and without retrospective tibial stress fractures. J Biomech 2006; 39: 2792-2797