Does Lower-Limb Tendon Structure Influence Walking Gait?

BACKGROUND: Within the exploration of human gait, key focal points include the examination of functional rockers and the influential role of tendon behavior in the intricate stretch-shortening cycle. To date, the possible relationship between these two fundamental factors in the analysis of human gait has not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between the morphology of the patellar and Achilles tendons and plantar fascia with respect to the duration of the rockers. METHODS: Thirty-nine healthy men (age: 28.42 ± 6.97 years; height: 173 ± 7.17 cm; weight: 67.75 ± 9.43 kg) were included. Data of the rockers were recorded using a baropodometric platform while participants walked over a 10 m walkway at a comfortable velocity. Before the trials, the thickness and cross-sectional area were recorded for the patellar tendon, Achilles tendon and plantar fascia using ultrasound examination. The relationship between the morphology of the soft tissue and the duration of the rockers was determined using a pairwise mean comparison (t-test). RESULTS: A significant difference was found for rocker 1 duration, where a longer duration was found in the group of subjects with thicker patellar tendons. Regarding the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia, no significant differences were observed in terms of tendon morphology. However, subjects with thicker Achilles tendons showed a longer duration of rocker 1. CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore a compelling association, revealing that an increased thickness of the patellar tendon significantly contributes to the extension of rocker 1 duration during walking in healthy adults.

Influence of walking speed on gait spatiotemporal parameters and the functional rockers of the foot in healthy adults.

BACKGROUND: The gait cycle is generally divided into stance phase and swing phase. The stance phase can also be divided into three functional rockers, each with a distinct fulcrum. It has been shown that walking speed (WS) influences both stance and swing phase but its influence on the functional foot rockers duration is unknown. The aim of the study was to analyze the WS influence on functional foot rockers duration. METHODS: a cross-sectional study is completed with 99 healthy volunteers to assess the effect of WS on kinematics and foot rockers duration in treadmill walking at 4, 5, and 6 km·h-1 RESULTS: Friedman test exhibited that all spatiotemporal variables and the length of the foot rockers changed significantly with WS (p < 0.05) except rocker 1 at 4 and 6 km·h-1. CONCLUSION: Every spatiotemporal parameter and the duration of the three functional rockers are affected by walking speed, although not all rockers are affected equally. The findings of this study reveal that Rocker 2 is the primary rocker whose duration is influenced by changes in gait speed.

El primer rocker: influencia del patrón de contacto inicial sobre la biomecánica, lesiones y rendimiento en la carrera de larga distancia / The first rocker: influence of the initial contact pattern on biomechanics, injuries, and performance in long-distance running

Este artículo examina la relación entre los patrones de pisada de corredores de larga distancia (Rearfoot Strike [RFS] y Non Rearfoot Strike [NRFS]) y varios aspectos como lesiones, rendimiento y biomecánica. A pesar de que correr se ha establecido como una actividad popular con beneficios cardiovasculares, respiratorios y psicológicos, conlleva un riesgo significativo de lesiones. Se encontró que la mayoría de los corredores adoptan un patrón RFS, que tiende a aumentar con la distancia recorrida, la fatiga y el uso de calzado amortiguado. Aunque algunos estudios sugieren una relación entre ciertos patrones de pisada y lesiones específicas, no hay suficiente evidencia para recomendar cambios en el patrón de pisada para la prevención de lesiones. Los corredores de élite tienden a usar un patrón NRFS más que los amateurs, pero la relación entre el patrón de pisada, el rendimiento y las variables biomecánicas es compleja y varía según el individuo. Se concluye que los profesionales de la salud y entrenadores deben considerar estas variaciones al asesorar a los corredores sobre técnicas y estrategias de entrenamiento, prevención, tratamiento y readaptación de lesiones (AU)

This paper examines the relationship between long-distance runners’ foot strike patterns (Rearfoot Strike [RFS] and Non Rearfoot Strike [NRFS]) and various aspects such as injuries, performance, and biomechanics. While running has established itself as a popular activity with cardiovascular, respiratory, and psychological benefits, it carries a significant risk of injuries. It was found that most runners adopt an RFS pattern, which tends to increase with distance covered and the use of cushioned footwear. Although some studies suggest a relationship between certain foot strike patterns and specific injuries, there is insufficient evidence to recommend changes in foot strike patterns for injury prevention. Elite runners tend to use an NRFS pattern more than amateurs, but the relationship between foot strike patterns, performance, and biomechanical variables is complex and varies indivually. It concludes that health professionals and coaches should consider these variations when advising runners on training techniques and strategies, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries (AU)

Absolute agreement and consistency of the OptoGait system and Freemed platform for measuring walking gait.

The gait cycle can be divided into four functional rocker units. Although the widespread use of the OptoGait (OG) system and the Freemed (FM) platform, their accuracy has not been tested. An observational study was completed with eighteen healthy volunteers to determine the accuracy of OG and FM for overground walking gait analysis. The pairwise comparison between data obtained from OG, FM and high-speed video analysis revealed significant differences for most of the measurements (p < 0.05). ICCs revealed an excellent absolute agreement between measurements (ICCs > 0.94) for all measures for OG systems compared to video-analysis. When considering FM vs. video-analysis, ICCs showed good absolute agreement for rocker 1 (ICC = 0.86) and 3 (ICC = 0.82), excellent for rocker 2 (ICC = 0.93) and poor (ICC < 0.5) for rocker 4. Bland-Altman plots (95% limits of agreement) revealed heteroscedasticity of error for OG in all variables for foot rockers (r2 > 0.1) while no heteroscedasticity of error was found when using FM (r2 < 0.1). This study indicates that the OG system and the FM platform can provide consistent foot rockers values when walking at a constant velocity. The differences between the systems assessed and their agreement and consistency values advise against their interchangeable use.

Sobrecarga articular en el astragalo por sobreentrenamiento en la gimnasia artística: tratamiento podológico / No disponible

La media de preparación de un gimnasta hasta alcanzarlos máximos niveles deportivos es de 11-12años, que un año de entrenamiento puede significarentre 300/310 días de trabajo, que un día de entrenamientopuede tener 2 o 3 sesiones y con un totalde 1000/1500 horas al año de entrenamiento año,es de suponer, que tales intensidades y volúmenesde entrenamiento necesitan que la preparación delos gimnastas sea cuidada hasta el más mínimodetalle, incluyendo la seguridad y la protecciónfrente a lesiones. Es en la fase de recepción y en lasextremidades inferiores donde se localiza el mayoríndice de lesiones y se generan fuerzas de impactocon una magnitud comprendida entre 10-18 vecesel peso corporal.Se presenta un caso clínico y el tratamiento ortopodológicocorrespondiente que se aplico en una jovengimnasta con una lesión por sobrecarga articular enla cabeza del astrágalo debido a un sobreentrenamientodeportivo, más acentuado en el pie derecho,producido por un rozamiento cartilaginoso de lasuperficie articular distal de la tibia con la cúpulaastragalina debido a un pie cavo valgo e hiperlaxo(AU)

The average preparation time for a gymnast to reachthe highest competitive levels is between 11 and 12years. In this period a year’s training may meanbetween 300 to 310 days work. Each day of trainingcould include 2 or 3 sessions, a total of between1000 and 1500 hours training a year. Such intensityand volume of training means the preparation ofgymnasts needs to be carefully controlled to thelast detail, including safety and protection againstinjuries. The majority of injuries occur in the receptionphase, and in the lower extremities. Theimpact blows which are generated are understood tobe between 10 and 18 times the body weight.Here presented is a clinical case and the correspondingorthochiropodical treatment which was appliedto a young gymnast with a joint overload injuryin the head of the astragalus due to competitiveovertraining. This overload was heavier in the rightfoot, produced by cartilaginous chaffing of the distalarticular surface of the tibia with the talar dome dueto a hyperlax concave-valgus foot(AU)