Effect of Heel-First Strike Gait on Knee and Ankle Mechanics
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Acquiring knowledge about the magnitude and direction of induced joint forces during modifying gait strategies is critical for proper exercise prescription. The present study aimed to evaluate whether a heel-first strike pattern during gait can affect th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/57/7/657 |
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| author | Shirin Aali Farhad Rezazadeh Georgian Badicu Wilhelm Robert Grosz |
| author_facet | Shirin Aali Farhad Rezazadeh Georgian Badicu Wilhelm Robert Grosz |
| author_sort | Shirin Aali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Acquiring knowledge about the magnitude and direction of induced joint forces during modifying gait strategies is critical for proper exercise prescription. The present study aimed to evaluate whether a heel-first strike pattern during gait can affect the biomechanical characteristics of ankle and knee joints among asymptomatic people. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: In this cross-sectional study performed in the biomechanics laboratory, 13 professional healthy male athletes walked on an instrumented walkway under two walking conditions. For the normal condition, subjects were instructed to walk as they normally would. For the heel-first strike condition, subjects were instructed to walk with heel-first strike pattern and increase heel contact duration as much as possible. Then, knee and ankle joint range of motions and moments, as well as vertical ground reaction force was measured by the Kistler force plate and Vicon motion analysis system. <i>Results</i>: Knee flexion angle at the initial contact and during stance phase was significantly lower when increasing the heel strike pattern. In addition, the mean values of the knee external rotation and adductor moments during heel strike condition were lower than those in normal walking. Further, the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) during mid-stance increased significantly during heel-first strike pattern compared to the value in normal gait pattern. <i>Conclusions</i>: The modification of gait pattern including heel-first strike pattern can reduce the mechanical load applied to the knee, while improving the extensibility of gastro-soleus muscle complex. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:51:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8aa339cb8f6e4909adf6655be7b31ab7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:51:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-8aa339cb8f6e4909adf6655be7b31ab72023-12-03T13:10:27ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442021-06-0157765710.3390/medicina57070657Effect of Heel-First Strike Gait on Knee and Ankle MechanicsShirin Aali0Farhad Rezazadeh1Georgian Badicu2Wilhelm Robert Grosz3Department of Sport Science Education, Farhangian University, Tehran 1998963341, IranDepartment of Biomechanics and Sport Injuries, Kharazmi University of Tehran, Teheran 1998963341, IranDepartment of Physical Education and Special Motricity, Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500068 Braşov, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education and Special Motricity, Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500068 Braşov, Romania<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Acquiring knowledge about the magnitude and direction of induced joint forces during modifying gait strategies is critical for proper exercise prescription. The present study aimed to evaluate whether a heel-first strike pattern during gait can affect the biomechanical characteristics of ankle and knee joints among asymptomatic people. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: In this cross-sectional study performed in the biomechanics laboratory, 13 professional healthy male athletes walked on an instrumented walkway under two walking conditions. For the normal condition, subjects were instructed to walk as they normally would. For the heel-first strike condition, subjects were instructed to walk with heel-first strike pattern and increase heel contact duration as much as possible. Then, knee and ankle joint range of motions and moments, as well as vertical ground reaction force was measured by the Kistler force plate and Vicon motion analysis system. <i>Results</i>: Knee flexion angle at the initial contact and during stance phase was significantly lower when increasing the heel strike pattern. In addition, the mean values of the knee external rotation and adductor moments during heel strike condition were lower than those in normal walking. Further, the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) during mid-stance increased significantly during heel-first strike pattern compared to the value in normal gait pattern. <i>Conclusions</i>: The modification of gait pattern including heel-first strike pattern can reduce the mechanical load applied to the knee, while improving the extensibility of gastro-soleus muscle complex.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/57/7/657biomechanicsheel strikeanklegait changegastrocnemius muscle stiffness |
| spellingShingle | Shirin Aali Farhad Rezazadeh Georgian Badicu Wilhelm Robert Grosz Effect of Heel-First Strike Gait on Knee and Ankle Mechanics Medicina biomechanics heel strike ankle gait change gastrocnemius muscle stiffness |
| title | Effect of Heel-First Strike Gait on Knee and Ankle Mechanics |
| title_full | Effect of Heel-First Strike Gait on Knee and Ankle Mechanics |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Heel-First Strike Gait on Knee and Ankle Mechanics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Heel-First Strike Gait on Knee and Ankle Mechanics |
| title_short | Effect of Heel-First Strike Gait on Knee and Ankle Mechanics |
| title_sort | effect of heel first strike gait on knee and ankle mechanics |
| topic | biomechanics heel strike ankle gait change gastrocnemius muscle stiffness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/57/7/657 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shirinaali effectofheelfirststrikegaitonkneeandanklemechanics AT farhadrezazadeh effectofheelfirststrikegaitonkneeandanklemechanics AT georgianbadicu effectofheelfirststrikegaitonkneeandanklemechanics AT wilhelmrobertgrosz effectofheelfirststrikegaitonkneeandanklemechanics |