Correlations between plantar pressure and joint kinematics in female recreational runners

Running provides many health benefits but carries the risk for lower extremity injuries. Previous studies have performed simultaneous assessments of plantar pressure and joint kinematics; however, they have not investigated correlations between these parameters. The goal of this study was to assess relationships between joint kinematics and plantar pressure metrics during stance phase of running. Fifteen female recreational runners participated in this study. Three-dimensional motion analysis and plantar pressure data were collected simultaneously as the subjects ran on an instrumented treadmill. Participants ran at a self-selected speed while maintaining a heart rate (HR) at 70-80% of their maximum HR (max HR = 220 – age). Sagittal and coronal plane motion of the ankle and hip and sagittal plane motion of the knee, along with peak plantar pressure, peak ground reaction force (GRF), force impulse, and pressure impulse were examined. Spearman rho correlation tests were performed to determine correlations among lower extremity joint kinematics and plantar pressure metrics. Positive correlations were found between peak plantar pressure and ankle dorsiflexion, knee flexion, and ankle inversion as well as between running speed and peak GRF. These correlations gave insight into risk factors for injury based on the relationship between plantar pressure metrics and joint kinematics. © 2021 IAE All rights reserved.