Running gait produces long range correlations: A systematic review.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Walking and running are common forms of locomotion, both of which exhibit variability over many gait cycles. Many studies have investigated the patterns generated from that ebb and flow, and a large proportion suggests human gait exhibits Long Range Correlations (LRCs). LRCs refer to the observation that healthy gait characteristic, like stride times, are positively correlated to themselves over time. Literature on LRCs in walking gait is well known but less attention has been given to LRCs in running gait. RESEARCH QUESTION What is the state of the art concerning LRCs in running gait? METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to identify the typical LRC patterns present in human running gait, in addition to disease, injury, and running surface effects on LRCs. Inclusion criteria were human subjects, running related experiments, computed LRCs, and experimental design. Exclusion criteria were studies on animals, non-humans, walking only, non-running, non-LRC analysis, and non-experiments. RESULTS: The initial search returned 536 articles. After review and deliberation, our review included 26 articles. Almost every article produced strong evidence for LRCs apparent in running gait and in all running surfaces. Additionally, LRCs tended to decrease due to fatigue, past injury, increased load carriage and seem to be lowest at preferred running speed on a treadmill. No studies investigated disease effects on LRCs in running gait. SIGNIFICANCE: LRCs seem to increase with deviations away from preferred running speed. Previously injured runners produced decreased LRCs compared to non-injured runners. LRCs also tended to decrease due to an increase in fatigue rate, which has been associated with increased injury rate. Lastly, there is a need for research on the typical LRCs in an overground environment, for which the typical LRCs found in a treadmill environment may or may not transfer.