EFFECT OF DOWNHILL RUNNING ON BIOMECHANICAL RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ILIOTIBIAL BAND SYNDROME

Authors

Leon Robertz, Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University CologneFollow
Kevin Bill, Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University CologneFollow
Uwe Kersting, Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University CologneFollow
Igor Kommik, Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University CologneFollow
Markus Kurz, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, SwedenFollow
Patrick Mai, Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University CologneFollow
Wolfgang Potthast, Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University CologneFollow
Steffen Willwacher, Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, Offenburg, GermanyFollow

Category

Injury

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of downhill running on biomechanical risk factors for iliotibial band syndrome. We conducted a 3D motion analysis of 22 females and males running on an instrumented treadmill at four different inclinations (0%, -5%, -10%, -15%) at a speed of 3.5 m/s. We found significant differences for biomechanical risk factors associated with iliotibial band syndrome. Peak knee flexion angle at initial ground contact (p < .001), peak knee adduction angle (p = .005), and iliotibial band strain (p < .001) systematically increased with increasing slope. Downhill running increases biomechanical risk factors for iliotibial band syndrome. Our results highlight the need to consider the individual running environment in assessing overuse injury risk in runners.

Recommended Citation

Robertz, Leon; Bill, Kevin; Kersting, Uwe; Kommik, Igor; Kurz, Markus; Mai, Patrick; Potthast, Wolfgang; and Willwacher, Steffen (2022) "EFFECT OF DOWNHILL RUNNING ON BIOMECHANICAL RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ILIOTIBIAL BAND SYNDROME," ISBS Proceedings Archive: Vol. 40: Iss. 1, Article 143.
Available at: https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol40/iss1/143