3D KINEMATICS OF THE THORAX DURING OVER-GROUND RUNNING

Fisher D.1, Tawa N.1,2
1University of Stellenbosch, Physiotherapy, Cape Town, South Africa, 2Jomo Kenyatta University University of Agriculture & Technology, Department of Physiotherapy, Nairobi, Kenya

Background: Normative movement of the thorax during running is not well understood. In particular, the effects of running speed and gender on thoracic motion are under-researched.

Purpose: This paper describes the 3D thoracic kinematics of healthy runners at three running speeds during the running cycle. Gender differences within the three running speed conditions were also described.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted at the institution’s 3D Movement Analysis Laboratory. Runners aged between 22-44 years old were recruited from local, registered running clubs. Three-dimensional thoracic kinematics was recorded using an optical motion capture system. We assessed range of motion (ROM) and peak angles of the thorax in each anatomical plane, as well as interactions with time and speed.

Results: We found statistically significant differences in thoracic kinematics of up to 2.38 degrees between speeds of about 2 to 4 m/s. The size of these differences implies that speed specific running norms are not required within this speed envelope. We also found statistically significant gender differences, most notably in the transverse plane.

Conclusion(s): We described the 3D thoracic kinematics of a group of healthy runners at three different running speeds during the running cycle to inform the development of larger, normative reference datasets.

Implications: Our findings suggest that speed specific running norms are arguably not required for a speed envelope of about 2 to 4 m/s. We propose that a gender specific normative database is required to interpret transverse plane movements, but not for the sagittal and frontal planes.

Funding acknowledgements: No funding acknowledements.

Topic: Sport & sports injuries

Ethics approval: Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Committee for Human Research (Ethics reference number: S12/07/196) at the University of Stellenbosch.


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