Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to quantify changes in peak bending moments at the distal tibia, peak patellofemoral joint contact forces and peak Achilles tendon forces during a high-intensity run to fatigue at middle-distance speed. DESIGN: Observational study. METHODS: 16 high-level runners (7 female) ran on a treadmill at the final speed achieved during a preceding maximum oxygen uptake test until failure (~3 min). Three-dimensional kinetics and kinematics were used to derive and compare tibial bending moments, patellofemoral joint contact forces and Achilles tendon forces at the start, 33 %, 67 % and the end of the run. RESULTS: . There was a decrease in peak tibial bending moments (-6.8 %, p = 0.004) from the start to the end of the run, driven by a decrease in peak bending moments due to muscular forces (-6.5 %, p = 0.001), whilst there was no difference in peak bending moments due to joint reaction forces. There was an increase in peak patellofemoral joint forces (+8.9 %, p = 0.026) from the start to the end of the run, but a decrease in peak Achilles tendon forces (-9.1 %, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Running at a fixed, high-intensity speed to failure led to reduced tibial bending moments and Achilles tendon forces, and increased patellofemoral joint forces. Thus, the altered neuromechanics of high-intensity running to fatigue may increase patellofemoral joint injury risk, but may not be a mechanism for tibial or Achilles tendon overuse injury development.
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,450
OpenAlex ID: W4401872490