Acute changes in sagittal plane kinematics while wearing a novel belt device during treadmill running

• Published in: Sports biomechanics Vol. 21; no. 6; pp. 718 - 730
• Main Authors: Greenberg, Eric T., Garcia, Micah C., Galante, Juliana, Werner, William G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 03.07.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Acute effects; Ankle; Feedback methods; Fitness equipment; gait/locomotion; Kinematics; Knee; motion analysis; Running; techniques; Feedback methods; gait/locomotion; techniques; motion analysis
• ISSN: 1476-3141; 1752-6116
• DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2019.1676462

Somatosensory feedback is used in walking retraining; however, its utility in running is less feasible due to the greater associated speeds. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of wearing a novel running belt device on sagittal plane running kinematics. Ten healthy runners ran on a treadmill with and without the use of a running belt device within a repeated measures study design. Temporal-spatial characteristics and sagittal plane knee and ankle kinematics were recorded with three-dimensional motion analysis. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests revealed significant decreases in centre of mass vertical displacement (z = −2.083, p = 0.003), tibial inclination at initial contact (z = −2.803, p = 0.003), and stance phase knee joint excursion (z = −2.701, p = 0.003), and greater knee flexion at initial contact (z = −2.803, p = 0.003) when the belt was donned. No differences were observed in step rate (z = −0.351, p = 0.363), foot inclination angle at initial contact (z = −2.090, p = 0.018), or peak knee flexion during stance (z = −1.172, p = 0.121). Findings suggest that donning a running belt can minimise specific high-risk biomechanical characteristics in runners with particular kinematic profiles.