Article

Footstrike patterns during running can be classified discretely into a rearfoot
strike, midfoot strike and forefoot strike by visual observation. However, the
footstrike pattern can also be classified on a continuum, ranging from 0% to 100%
(extreme rearfoot to extreme forefoot) using the strike index, a measure
requiring force plate data. When force data are not available, an alternative
method to quantify the strike pattern must be used. The purpose of this paper was
to quantify the continuum of foot strike patterns using an easily attainable
kinematic measure, and compare it to the strike index measure. Force and
kinematic data from twenty subjects were collected as they ran across an embedded
force plate. Strike index and the footstrike angle were identified for the four
running conditions of rearfoot strike, midfoot strike and forefoot strike, as
well as barefoot. The footstrike angle was calculated as the angle of the foot
with respect to the ground in the sagittal plane. Results indicated that the
footstrike angle was significantly correlated with strike index. The linear
regression model suggested that strike index can be accurately estimated, in both
barefoot and shod conditions, in the absence of force data.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS