Influence of running speed, inclination, and fatigue on calcaneus angle in female runners
Running is a popular form of physical activity with significant health benefits, but improper technique can lead to running-related injuries. This study investigates the influence of running speed, incline, and fatigue on calcaneus eversion/inversion angle at heel strike, maximum eversion angle, and...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1505263/full |
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| author | Nina Verdel Nina Verdel Neža Nograšek Neža Nograšek Miha Drobnič Irinej Papuga Vojko Strojnik Matej Supej |
| author_facet | Nina Verdel Nina Verdel Neža Nograšek Neža Nograšek Miha Drobnič Irinej Papuga Vojko Strojnik Matej Supej |
| author_sort | Nina Verdel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Running is a popular form of physical activity with significant health benefits, but improper technique can lead to running-related injuries. This study investigates the influence of running speed, incline, and fatigue on calcaneus eversion/inversion angle at heel strike, maximum eversion angle, and range of motion, factors associated with lower limb injuries. Fifteen injury-free female runners participated in this study. Kinematic data were collected using a 3D motion capture system with reflective markers placed directly on the skin through specially modified running shoes. The runners performed treadmill trials at varying speeds (10, 12, and 14 km/h) and inclines (0°, 5°, and 10°), both before and after a fatigue-inducing 30-min run. The results indicate that higher speeds were associated with an increase in inversion angle at heel strike (p = 0.05) and range of motion (p = 0.02 before fatigue), both of which are linked to chronic ankle instability and Achilles tendinopathy. Running at an incline reduced both maximum eversion angle (p = 0.002 after fatigue) and range of motion (p = 0.003 after fatigue), suggesting a protective effect against excessive eversion. Fatigue increased range of motion (p = 0.05), which is a risk factor for instability and overuse injuries. These findings suggest that running at higher speeds and in a fatigued state may increase the likelihood of injuries due to increased range of motion, whereas incline running may mitigate this risk by reducing excessive eversion and range of motion. Understanding these biomechanical changes can inform injury prevention strategies for runners. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-efc8fc52826348cd8bffbf4ce65c1de7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-efc8fc52826348cd8bffbf4ce65c1de72025-08-20T02:08:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-04-011610.3389/fphys.2025.15052631505263Influence of running speed, inclination, and fatigue on calcaneus angle in female runnersNina Verdel0Nina Verdel1Neža Nograšek2Neža Nograšek3Miha Drobnič4Irinej Papuga5Vojko Strojnik6Matej Supej7Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Communication Systems, Jozef Stefan Institue, Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaDeparment of Vascular Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaRunning is a popular form of physical activity with significant health benefits, but improper technique can lead to running-related injuries. This study investigates the influence of running speed, incline, and fatigue on calcaneus eversion/inversion angle at heel strike, maximum eversion angle, and range of motion, factors associated with lower limb injuries. Fifteen injury-free female runners participated in this study. Kinematic data were collected using a 3D motion capture system with reflective markers placed directly on the skin through specially modified running shoes. The runners performed treadmill trials at varying speeds (10, 12, and 14 km/h) and inclines (0°, 5°, and 10°), both before and after a fatigue-inducing 30-min run. The results indicate that higher speeds were associated with an increase in inversion angle at heel strike (p = 0.05) and range of motion (p = 0.02 before fatigue), both of which are linked to chronic ankle instability and Achilles tendinopathy. Running at an incline reduced both maximum eversion angle (p = 0.002 after fatigue) and range of motion (p = 0.003 after fatigue), suggesting a protective effect against excessive eversion. Fatigue increased range of motion (p = 0.05), which is a risk factor for instability and overuse injuries. These findings suggest that running at higher speeds and in a fatigued state may increase the likelihood of injuries due to increased range of motion, whereas incline running may mitigate this risk by reducing excessive eversion and range of motion. Understanding these biomechanical changes can inform injury prevention strategies for runners.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1505263/fullbiomechanicseversioninversioninjury preventionrunning related injury3D kinematics |
| spellingShingle | Nina Verdel Nina Verdel Neža Nograšek Neža Nograšek Miha Drobnič Irinej Papuga Vojko Strojnik Matej Supej Influence of running speed, inclination, and fatigue on calcaneus angle in female runners Frontiers in Physiology biomechanics eversion inversion injury prevention running related injury 3D kinematics |
| title | Influence of running speed, inclination, and fatigue on calcaneus angle in female runners |
| title_full | Influence of running speed, inclination, and fatigue on calcaneus angle in female runners |
| title_fullStr | Influence of running speed, inclination, and fatigue on calcaneus angle in female runners |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of running speed, inclination, and fatigue on calcaneus angle in female runners |
| title_short | Influence of running speed, inclination, and fatigue on calcaneus angle in female runners |
| title_sort | influence of running speed inclination and fatigue on calcaneus angle in female runners |
| topic | biomechanics eversion inversion injury prevention running related injury 3D kinematics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1505263/full |
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