The effects of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage on running kinematics at different speeds

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of knee localised muscle damage on running kinematics at varying speeds. Nineteen young women (23.2 ± 2.8 years; 164 ± 8 cm; 53.6 ± 5.4 kg), performed a maximal eccentric muscle damage protocol (5 × 15) of the knee extensors and flexors of both legs at 60 rad · s(-1). Lower body kinematics was assessed during level running on a treadmill at three speeds pre- and 48 h after. Evaluated muscle damage indices included isometric torque, muscle soreness and serum creatine kinase activity. The results revealed that all indices changed significantly after exercise, indicating muscle injury. Step length decreased and stride frequency significantly increased 48 h post-exercise only at the fastest running speed (3 m · s(-1)). Support time and knee flexion at toe-off increased only at the preferred transition speed and 2.5 m · s(-1). Knee flexion at foot contact, pelvic tilt and obliquity significantly increased, whereas hip extension during stance-phase, knee flexion during swing-phase, as well as knee and ankle joints range of motion significantly decreased 48 h post-exercise at all speeds. In conclusion, the effects of eccentric exercise of both knee extensors and flexors on particular tempo-spatial parameters and knee kinematics of running are speed-dependent. However, several pelvic and lower joint kinematics present similar behaviour at the three running speeds examined. These findings provide new insights into how running kinematics at different speeds are adapted to compensate for the impaired function of the knee musculature following muscle damage.

The effect of running velocity on footstrike angle – A curve-clustering approach

“…It could be hypothesized that it was due to Cluster 3 runners increasing stride length through increasing hip range of motion without altering knee and ankle kinematics, which may have implications for over-striding. A first approximation to examine this hypothesis can be achieved based on simple trigonometry; by considering a fixed leg length at touchdown [30][31][32] and using the treadmill velocity and ground contact time to establish horizontal touchdown position to estimate FSA. This approximation predicted an increase in FSA very similar to that observed experimentally, to within 1° for velocities up to 4.4 m·s -1 ; however, confirmation of the hypothesis would require further study.…”

Alterations of Neuromuscular Function after the World's Most Challenging Mountain Ultra-Marathon

“…Stronger eccentric contractions were thus needed to absorb the potential energy during ground contact phase. More importantly, wider amplitudes are thus needed to perform these braking phases, especially for the knee and ankle joints [48]. The higher levels of tension associated with large movement amplitudes induce greater mechanical stress (lengthening) on muscle fibers [49], [50] and importantly affect the level of exercise-induced muscle damage [51].…”

An Evidence-Based Videotaped Running Biomechanics Analysis

“…Pelvic drop during running has been reported to be significantly related to both hip abductor strength and hip extension strength, and fatiguing of these muscles have been observed to result in excessive pelvic drop. 59,60 Looking for side to side differences can be helpful in detecting excessive pelvic drop and correlation with associated kinetic chain deficits should be performed to see how this contributes to injury. Although further research is necessary in this area, pelvic drop remains as a variable of interest in a biomechanics running analysis.…”