Similarities in joint stiffness across footwear conditions in younger and masters-aged runners

Abstract

Joint stiffness has been shown to be associated with both running performance and injury. Differences in joint stiffness have been reported between footwear conditions among young runners, and between older and younger runners. While the effect of footwear and the effect of aging on running mechanics is extensive, the effect of footwear on joint stiffness in older runners remains unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of footwear on knee and ankle joint stiffness between older and younger runners. Ten young runners and ten masters-aged runners ran over ground at 4.0 m/s in a traditional cushioning shoe, maximal cushioning shoe, and in their own running shoes while three-dimensional kinematics and kinetics were collected. Joint stiffness was calculated as the change in respective joint angle relative to the change in the respective joint moment from foot strike until the instant the joints were maximally flexed. Stiffness values at the ankle and knee were analysed using a 2 × 3 (group × shoe) mixed analyses of variance. Results showed no significant interactions between group and shoe for joint stiffness at the ankle and knee. Group similarity was an unexpected finding as previous literature has reported differences in older runners compared to young runners. Participants in this study were compared in matched groups based on weekly mileage. It is possible the similar gait characteristics between young and masters-aged runners can be credited to their active lifestyle.

Keywords:

• Aging
• footwear
• running
• joint stiffness
• biomechanics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).