Karsten Hollander1, Julie Stebbins2, Inke Marie Albertsen3, Daniel Hamacher4, Kornelia Babin5, Claudia Hacke6, Astrid Zech4. 1. Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Institute of Human Movement Science, University of Hamburg, Germany; Oxford Gait Laboratory, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom. Electronic address: karsten.hollander@uni-hamburg.de. 2. Oxford Gait Laboratory, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom. 3. Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Altonaer Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 4. Department of Sport Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany. 5. Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Altonaer Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 6. Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While altered foot arch characteristics (high or low) are frequently assumed to influence lower limb biomechanics and are suspected to be a contributing factor for injuries, the association between arch characteristics and lower limb running biomechanics in children is unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION: Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a dynamically measured arch index and running biomechanics in healthy children. METHODS: One hundred and one children aged 10-14 years were included in this study and underwent a biomechanical investigation. Plantar distribution (Novel, Emed) was used to determine the dynamic arch index and 3D motion capture (Vicon) to measure running biomechanics. Linear mixed models were established to determine the association between dynamic arch index and foot strike patterns, running kinematics, kinetics and temporal-spatial outcomes. RESULTS: No association was found between dynamic arch index and rate of rearfoot strikes (p = 0.072). Of all secondary outcomes, only the foot progression angle was associated with the dynamic arch index (p = 0.032) with greater external rotation in lower arched children. SIGNIFICANCE: Overall, we found only few associations between arch characteristics and running biomechanics in children. However, altered foot arch characteristics are of clinical interest. Future studies should focus on detailed foot biomechanics and include clinically diagnosed high and low arched children.
BACKGROUND: While altered foot arch characteristics (high or low) are frequently assumed to influence lower limb biomechanics and are suspected to be a contributing factor for injuries, the association between arch characteristics and lower limb running biomechanics in children is unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION: Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a dynamically measured arch index and running biomechanics in healthy children. METHODS: One hundred and one children aged 10-14 years were included in this study and underwent a biomechanical investigation. Plantar distribution (Novel, Emed) was used to determine the dynamic arch index and 3D motion capture (Vicon) to measure running biomechanics. Linear mixed models were established to determine the association between dynamic arch index and foot strike patterns, running kinematics, kinetics and temporal-spatial outcomes. RESULTS: No association was found between dynamic arch index and rate of rearfoot strikes (p = 0.072). Of all secondary outcomes, only the foot progression angle was associated with the dynamic arch index (p = 0.032) with greater external rotation in lower arched children. SIGNIFICANCE: Overall, we found only few associations between arch characteristics and running biomechanics in children. However, altered foot arch characteristics are of clinical interest. Future studies should focus on detailed foot biomechanics and include clinically diagnosed high and low arched children.
Authors: Seyed Hamed Mousavi; Laurens van Kouwenhove; Reza Rajabi; Johannes Zwerver; Juha M Hijmans Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-02-10 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: André Setti Persiane; Daiane Magalhães Gomes Negrão; Raone Daltro Paraguassu Alves; Diego Galace DE Freitas; Cláudio Cazarini; Vera Lúcia Dos Santos Alves Journal: Acta Ortop Bras Date: 2021 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 0.513