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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Effect of orthoses on lower extremity biomechanics associated with patellofemoral pain during running gait

Translated title

Effekt af ortoser på risikofaktorer associeret med patellofemoral smertesyndrom under løb

Author

Term

4. semester

Publication year

2014

Submitted on

Pages

56

Abstract

Ortoser (fodindlæg) bruges ofte i behandlingen af løberelaterede skader, men det er ikke fuldt klarlagt, hvordan de virker. Denne undersøgelse skulle afklare, hvordan antipronations-ortoser påvirker bevægelser og belastninger, der er forbundet med udvikling af patellofemoral smerte (smerter omkring knæskallen) under løb. Otte sunde motionsløbere deltog i et cross-over-studie. Hver deltager løb en fastlagt rute i seks forskellige versioner af en ortopædisk løbesko med justerbar medial kilesupport, justerbar medial længdebuesupport og justerbar mellemsålstøddæmpning. Bevægelses- og kraftdata blev indsamlet med bevægelsesoptagelse og et kraftpladesystem. For hver deltager blev der opbygget en personspecifik muskel-skelet-model af underekstremiteten baseret på funktionelle ledtests, og inverse dynamik blev brugt til at beregne ledmomenter og -kræfter. Under standfasen i løb medførte antipronations-ortoser signifikant øget inversionsmoment i foden, øgede indadrettede rotationsmomenter i fod og knæ, reduceret adduktionsmoment i hoften og reduceret lateral forskydningskraft i knæet. Disse fund støtter brugen af ortoser som et forebyggende redskab mod udvikling af patellofemoral smerte. Effekten var primært distal (i fod/ankel) med små eller ingen ændringer lokalt (i knæet) og proksimalt (i hoften), hvilket tyder på, at især løbere med distale risikofaktorer kan have gavn af antipronations-ortoser.

Orthoses (shoe inserts) are widely used to treat running-related injuries, but how they work is not fully understood. This study examined how anti-pronation orthoses affect movements and loads linked to the development of patellofemoral pain (pain around the kneecap) during running. Eight healthy recreational runners completed a cross-over study. Each runner followed a set course in six configurations of an orthotic running shoe with adjustable medial wedge support, adjustable medial longitudinal arch support, and adjustable midsole cushioning. Movement and ground-reaction data were collected with motion capture and force plates. A subject-specific lower-limb musculoskeletal model was built from functional joint trials, and inverse dynamics was used to calculate joint moments and forces. During the stance phase of running, anti-pronation orthoses significantly increased the foot inversion moment and internal rotation moments at the foot and knee, and reduced the hip adduction moment and lateral shear force at the knee. These findings support the use of orthoses as a preventive tool against patellofemoral pain. The effects were mainly distal (foot/ankle), with small or no changes at the knee and hip, suggesting that only subgroups with distal risk factors may benefit from anti-pronation orthoses.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]