Is Running Better than Walking for Reducing Hip Joint Loads? 2018

Anthony G Schache, and Yi-Chung Lin, and Kay M Crossley, and Marcus G Pandy
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA.

Knowledge of hip biomechanics during locomotion is necessary for designing optimal rehabilitation programs for hip-related conditions. The purpose of this study was to: 1) determine how lower-limb muscle contributions to the hip contact force (HCF) differed between walking and running; and 2) compare both absolute and per-unit-distance (PUD) loads at the hip during walking and running. Kinematic and ground reaction force data were captured from eight healthy participants during overground walking and running at various steady-state speeds (walking: 1.50 ± 0.11 m·s and 1.98 ± 0.03 m·s; running: 2.15 ± 0.18 m·s and 3.47 ± 0.11 m·s). A three-dimensional musculoskeletal model was used to calculate the HCF as well as lower-limb muscular contributions to the HCF in each direction (posterior-anterior; inferior-superior; lateral-medial). The impulse of the resultant HCF was calculated as well as the PUD impulse (BW·s·m) and PUD force (BW·m). For both walking and running, HCF magnitude was greater during stance than swing and was largest in the inferior-superior direction and smallest in the posterior-anterior direction. Gluteus medius, iliopsoas, and gluteus maximus generated the largest contributions to the HCF during stance, whereas iliopsoas and hamstrings generated the largest contributions during swing. When comparing all locomotion conditions, the impulse of the resultant HCF was smallest for running at 2.15 m·s with an average magnitude of 2.14 ± 0.31 BW·s, whereas the PUD impulse and force were smallest for running at 3.47 m·s with average magnitudes of 0.95 ± 0.18 BW·s·m and 1.25 ± 0.24 BW·m, respectively. Hip PUD loads were lower for running at 3.47 m·s compared with all other locomotion conditions because of a greater distance travelled per stride (PUD impulse) or a shorter stride duration combined with a greater distance travelled per stride (PUD force).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D005260 Female Females
D006621 Hip Joint The joint that is formed by the articulation of the head of FEMUR and the ACETABULUM of the PELVIS. Acetabulofemoral Joint,Acetabulofemoral Joints,Hip Joints,Joint, Acetabulofemoral,Joint, Hip,Joints, Acetabulofemoral,Joints, Hip
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000072797 Walking Speed The rate at which steps are made while walking. Gait Speed,Walking Pace,Gait Speeds,Pace, Walking,Paces, Walking,Speed, Gait,Speed, Walking,Speeds, Gait,Speeds, Walking,Walking Paces,Walking Speeds
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D001696 Biomechanical Phenomena The properties, processes, and behavior of biological systems under the action of mechanical forces. Biomechanics,Kinematics,Biomechanic Phenomena,Mechanobiological Phenomena,Biomechanic,Biomechanic Phenomenas,Phenomena, Biomechanic,Phenomena, Biomechanical,Phenomena, Mechanobiological,Phenomenas, Biomechanic
D012420 Running An activity in which the body is propelled by moving the legs rapidly. Running is performed at a moderate to rapid pace and should be differentiated from JOGGING, which is performed at a much slower pace. Runnings
D013314 Stress, Mechanical A purely physical condition which exists within any material because of strain or deformation by external forces or by non-uniform thermal expansion; expressed quantitatively in units of force per unit area. Mechanical Stress,Mechanical Stresses,Stresses, Mechanical
D016138 Walking An activity in which the body advances at a slow to moderate pace by moving the feet in a coordinated fashion. This includes recreational walking, walking for fitness, and competitive race-walking. Ambulation

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