Browsing by Author "Robertson, Emily"
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- ItemDifference in running gait kinematics between highly trained and recreational trail runners before and after a fatigue stimulus(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Robertson, Emily; Venter, Ranel; De Waal, Simon; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Sport Science.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The influence of fatigue on running gait kinematics is not well documented in the trail running population, specifically the differences between highly trained and recreational trail runners. Previous research on running gait kinematics has largely focused on road runners, and the relationships between kinematics, performance, injury and fatigue has been established in this population. There is limited research on trail running gait kinematics available and the role thereof in trail running performance and training, in comparison to road running. Seven highly trained runners (mean age 35 ± 2.2; body mass (kg) 69.5 ± 4.3; height (cm) 177.5 ± 5.8; VO2max 71.30 ± 6.18 ) and 10 recreational trail runners (mean age 24.8 ± 2.4; body mass (kg) 78.0 ± 5.1; height (cm) 183.5 ± 6.8; VO2max 66.20 ± 5.12) participated in this study. Runners completed an indoor maximal treadmill running protocol on a BERTEC treadmill to volitional exhaustion. The treadmill running protocol included a VO2max test that began at 10.0km/h, with a continuous increase of +1.0km/h per minute and a continuous inclination increase by 0.5% per minute starting at 0.0%. Select running gait kinematics observed included: stride length (SL), stride frequency (SF), ankle angle at contact (ADF), knee flexion (KF), hip flexion (HF) and forward trunk inclination (FTI) were measured by inertial measurement units (IMU’s) (100Hz). Running gait kinematics from the last ten seconds of the corresponding minute, at the start (0%), middle (50%) and end (100%) of each individual’s VO2max test, were analyzed. During their laboratory visit, each runner began with a VO2max test. This test involved a warm up of easy jogging at 10km/h, with a continuous increase of +1.0km/h per minute and continuous inclination increase by 0.5% per minute starting at 0.0%. The runners were verbally encouraged during the test to run for the longest time possible until volitional exhaustion was reached. Results indicated that there were no significant differences between groups during submaximal running (10km/h). When analyzing the changes in kinematics at the start of the VO2max test, there were no significant differences found between the roups in a non-fatigued state during submaximal running (10km/h). Results from the end of the VO2max test indicated that there were no significant differences between the groups for SC, ADF, HF and FTI. However, significant differences were observed for SL (p = 0.01) and KF (p = 0.02) at the end of the VO2max test (p = 0.02). Results from the repeated measures ANCOVA indicate that running gait kinematics for both groups were similar. Although no statistical significance was shown, medium to large effect sizes illustrate that there were a trend of kinematic change over time and between groups, that could show significant differences between recreational and highly trained runners with a larger group of participants. Significance HT runners maintained a stable running gait for longer, whereas recreational runners can improve in areas such as SL and KF. These results can help to further understanding of the relationship between running gait kinematics, training status and fatigue.