TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex and Stride Impact Joint Stiffness During Loaded Running
AU - Brown, Tyler N.
AU - Fain, AuraLea C.
AU - Seymore, Kayla D.
AU - Lobb, Nicholas J.
PY - 2021/4/1
Y1 - 2021/4/1
N2 - This study determined changes in lower limb joint stiffness when running with body-borne load, and whether they differ with stride or sex. Twenty males and 16 females had joint stiffness quantified when running (4.0 m/s) with body-borne load (20, 25, 30, and 35 kg) and 3 stride lengths (preferred or 15% longer and shorter). Lower limb joint stiffness, flexion range of motion (RoM), and peak flexion moment were submitted to a mixed-model analysis of variance. Knee and ankle stiffness increased 19% and 6% with load ( P < .001, P = .049), but decreased 8% and 6% as stride lengthened ( P = .004, P < .001). Decreased knee RoM ( P < .001, 0.9°–2.7°) and increased knee ( P = .007, up to 0.12 N.m/kg.m) and ankle ( P = .013, up to 0.03 N.m/kg.m) flexion moment may stiffen joints with load. Greater knee ( P < .001, 4.7°–5.4°) and ankle ( P < .001, 2.6°–7.2°) flexion RoM may increase joint compliance with longer strides. Females exhibited 15% stiffer knee ( P = .025) from larger reductions in knee RoM (4.3°–5.4°) with load than males ( P < .004). Stiffer lower limb joints may elevate injury risk while running with load, especially for females.
AB - This study determined changes in lower limb joint stiffness when running with body-borne load, and whether they differ with stride or sex. Twenty males and 16 females had joint stiffness quantified when running (4.0 m/s) with body-borne load (20, 25, 30, and 35 kg) and 3 stride lengths (preferred or 15% longer and shorter). Lower limb joint stiffness, flexion range of motion (RoM), and peak flexion moment were submitted to a mixed-model analysis of variance. Knee and ankle stiffness increased 19% and 6% with load ( P < .001, P = .049), but decreased 8% and 6% as stride lengthened ( P = .004, P < .001). Decreased knee RoM ( P < .001, 0.9°–2.7°) and increased knee ( P = .007, up to 0.12 N.m/kg.m) and ankle ( P = .013, up to 0.03 N.m/kg.m) flexion moment may stiffen joints with load. Greater knee ( P < .001, 4.7°–5.4°) and ankle ( P < .001, 2.6°–7.2°) flexion RoM may increase joint compliance with longer strides. Females exhibited 15% stiffer knee ( P = .025) from larger reductions in knee RoM (4.3°–5.4°) with load than males ( P < .004). Stiffer lower limb joints may elevate injury risk while running with load, especially for females.
KW - biomechanics
KW - musculoskeletal
KW - sex dimorphism
KW - torsional joint stiffness
UR - https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/kinesiology_facpubs/191
UR - https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.2020-0135
M3 - Article
JO - Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations
JF - Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations
ER -