Eichelberger P1, Studer D1, Pohl J1, Krause F2, Baur H1
1Bern University of Applied Sciences, Department of Health Professions, Division of Physiotherapy, Bern, Switzerland, 2University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Bern, Switzerland
Background: The mode of gait and gait speed influence the ground reaction force. Since the foot must counteract these forces, foot kinematics possibly also depend from these parameters. Studies which already explored such relationships focused only on discrete kinematic features but did not consider complete kinematic time-series.
Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of walking and running speed and mode of gait on navicular kinematics during the gait cycle.
Methods: Navicular kinematics were assessed in 22 healthy participants at 3, 4.3 +/- 0.5 (self-selected) and 6 km/h (G3, Gself, G6) and running at 6, 9 and 12 km/h (R6, R9, R12) on a treadmill. Effects of gait speed and mode of gait on the cranio-caudal and medio-lateral navicular position, displacement and velocity throughout the stance (ST) and swing (SW) phases were analyzed by means of statistical parametric mapping (SPM).
Results: For the walking conditions, the medial longitudinal arch showed patterns of caudally dropping and medially bulging followed by cranially rising and laterally bulging with deflection points between 67% and 78% ST. For running, the deflection points occurred earlier, between 50% and 60% ST. Maximum caudal displacements during stance measured from foot strike were 5.4, 5 and 3.4 mm (G3, Gself, G6) and 7.0, 8.2 and 8.7 mm (R6, R9, R12). The respective medial displacements were 4.2, 4.2 and 3.6 mm (G3, Gself, G6) and 4.6, 5.5 and 6.0 mm (R6, R9, R12). Reduction with increasing walking speed and increase with increasing running speed of caudal and medial displacement in the time intervals that contained the respective maxima was significant. Cranio-caudal and medio-lateral navicular positions were more caudal and medial, respectively, in the first half of stance with increasing walking speed while they were more caudal and medial during midstance with increasing running speed. Swing phase patterns showed principally increased heterogeneity among participants. Nevertheless, continuing arch rise during the first 10% and 20% of walking and running, respectively, followed by a caudal reversal to the initial contact pose became evident. A faster caudal movement during terminal swing and early loading response and a faster and earlier cranial movement during terminal stance were observed for increasing walking speed. Faster caudal and cranial movements became primary evident around 30% and 85% ST, respectively, for increasing running speed. Similarly, faster medial and lateral movements were primary observed around 20% and 80% ST.
Conclusion(s): Reductions in the maximum caudal and medial displacements during walking came primary from a reduced arch height and a more medial arch bulging at initial contact and not from an increased maximum arch flattening or medialization during stance. Contrary, increased maximum arch flattening and medialization during stance but not changes in cranio-caudal or medio-lateral position at initial contact were the primary reason for increased maximum caudal and medial displacement during stance when running.
Implications: Since the study found that walking and running speed affect midfoot kinematics at various instances of the gait cycle, it is recommended that assessments should not be reduced to single parameters of kinematic outcomes, like for example maximum excursion.
Keywords: midfoot motion, walking, running
Funding acknowledgements: This study was supported by a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), Project 140928.
Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of walking and running speed and mode of gait on navicular kinematics during the gait cycle.
Methods: Navicular kinematics were assessed in 22 healthy participants at 3, 4.3 +/- 0.5 (self-selected) and 6 km/h (G3, Gself, G6) and running at 6, 9 and 12 km/h (R6, R9, R12) on a treadmill. Effects of gait speed and mode of gait on the cranio-caudal and medio-lateral navicular position, displacement and velocity throughout the stance (ST) and swing (SW) phases were analyzed by means of statistical parametric mapping (SPM).
Results: For the walking conditions, the medial longitudinal arch showed patterns of caudally dropping and medially bulging followed by cranially rising and laterally bulging with deflection points between 67% and 78% ST. For running, the deflection points occurred earlier, between 50% and 60% ST. Maximum caudal displacements during stance measured from foot strike were 5.4, 5 and 3.4 mm (G3, Gself, G6) and 7.0, 8.2 and 8.7 mm (R6, R9, R12). The respective medial displacements were 4.2, 4.2 and 3.6 mm (G3, Gself, G6) and 4.6, 5.5 and 6.0 mm (R6, R9, R12). Reduction with increasing walking speed and increase with increasing running speed of caudal and medial displacement in the time intervals that contained the respective maxima was significant. Cranio-caudal and medio-lateral navicular positions were more caudal and medial, respectively, in the first half of stance with increasing walking speed while they were more caudal and medial during midstance with increasing running speed. Swing phase patterns showed principally increased heterogeneity among participants. Nevertheless, continuing arch rise during the first 10% and 20% of walking and running, respectively, followed by a caudal reversal to the initial contact pose became evident. A faster caudal movement during terminal swing and early loading response and a faster and earlier cranial movement during terminal stance were observed for increasing walking speed. Faster caudal and cranial movements became primary evident around 30% and 85% ST, respectively, for increasing running speed. Similarly, faster medial and lateral movements were primary observed around 20% and 80% ST.
Conclusion(s): Reductions in the maximum caudal and medial displacements during walking came primary from a reduced arch height and a more medial arch bulging at initial contact and not from an increased maximum arch flattening or medialization during stance. Contrary, increased maximum arch flattening and medialization during stance but not changes in cranio-caudal or medio-lateral position at initial contact were the primary reason for increased maximum caudal and medial displacement during stance when running.
Implications: Since the study found that walking and running speed affect midfoot kinematics at various instances of the gait cycle, it is recommended that assessments should not be reduced to single parameters of kinematic outcomes, like for example maximum excursion.
Keywords: midfoot motion, walking, running
Funding acknowledgements: This study was supported by a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), Project 140928.
Topic: Human movement analysis; Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Ethics commitee of the canton of Bern
Ethics committee: Ethics commitee of the canton of Bern
Ethics number: 052/15
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
