Bilateral Lower Limb Variability in Distance Running

Abstract

Distance running, a popular recreational activity, carries a high overuse injury risk. Increased vertical ground reaction force and internal joint forces, as well as the bilateral asymmetry and variability of these variables, was associated with overuse injuries in distance running. The aim of this study was to develop an understanding of the relationship between bilateral asymmetry and variability of ground reaction force, rate of force development and internal joint reaction forces at the ankle, knee and hip in distance runners. Seven female trained distance runners ran through a data collection station from a 20m approach run for a total of 144 trials. Lower limb three dimensional kinematic and kinetic data were processed and analysed for 139 stance phases. Peak vertical ground reaction forces ranged from 2.45-3.31 BW. Peak rate of force development ranged from 25.54-63.06 BW/s. Lower limb internal joint reaction forces ranged from 1.77-3.23BW vertically and 0.28-3.75BW horizontally. Variability and bilateral asymmetry of kinetics measures were found to be subject specific, with no group trend present in this research. This research suggested that bilateral and variability differences were present in running kinetics on an individual basis and supports the use of individual analysis to prevent data misinterpretation in research.