Alterations in Ground Reaction Force Frequency Content During Walking and Running in Recreational Runners with a History of COVID-19 Compared to Healthy Controls
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: Despite the prevalence of chronic symptoms of COVID-19 and pathological changes that may affect gait and functional mobility in people with a history of COVID-19. No studies have investigated the ground reaction force frequency in recreational runners with history of COVID-19 differed compared to healthy controls. Methods and Materials: The study involved 14 female adults with history of COVID-19 and 14 healthy age-matched controls. Ground reaction forces were recorded during barefoot walking (~ 1.2 m/s) and running (~ 3.2 m/s) at constant speed. Results: Significant differences in key frequency components in the anterior-posterior direction were observed between the COVID-19 and healthy groups during running (p=0.036). Also, Significant differences in key frequency components in the medio-lateral direction were observed between the COVID-19 and healthy groups during walking (p=0.005). Conclusion: Lower essential number of harmonics in the medio-lateral direction during walking and higher essential number of harmonics in anterior-posterior direction during running may be attributed to decreased muscle membrane excitability, slowing of nerve conduction velocities, and axonal degeneration directly impacting skeletal muscle activation, and in turn its function.
Institutions: University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, University of Milan
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410575319